Turkish authorities have detained two individuals, an Iranian and a Turkish national, on suspicion of espionage, a senior official announced Wednesday.

The two alleged spies were detained as they plotted to kidnap and forcibly repatriate a former Iranian military official from the eastern Turkish province Van, which borders Iran, an unnamed government official told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

According to the official, six local "collaborators" were also arrested in a joint operation by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency and Turkey's police.

He did not reveal the identity of the two suspects or the reasons behind the attempted kidnap of the former Iranian military official.

Turkey and Iran have historically had close economic ties but occasionally stand at opposite sides in regional conflicts, including Syria.