Twenty-two people were arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of planning to attack American, Israeli and Jewish targets.

The arrests were announced March 15 by the National Security Ministry, which said the attacks were to be undertaken on behalf of Iran, the French news agency AFP reported. Among the sites targeted were the U.S. and Israeli embassies, a Jewish Agency for Israel facility and an American fast-food restaurant.

Last month, suspected terrorists with links to Iran and Hezbollah were arrested in Azerbaijan and accused of planning terrorist attacks against foreigners in Baku, the capital. In January, at least two men were arrested after planning an attack on two Chabad emissaries in Baku.

Israel Aerospace Industries, a state-run company, signed a $1.6 billion deal in February to sell sophisticated military technology to Azerbaijan. — jta