TEHERAN, Iran- Seven members of al-Qaida have been arrested by Iran's security forces in western part of the country along the border with Iraq, the local English language satellite Press TV reported Thursday.

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The detainees were arrested in the northwestern town of Sardasht in West Azarbaijan province, an unnamed source was quoted as saying.

"These people were identified a month ago and were subsequently detained by an order by judicial authorities," the source said according to the report.

In the past Iran reported the arrest of hundreds of al-Qaida members who tried to cross the country.