Into The Iranian Twilight Zone

No, it's not The Onion--it only seems like it.

Here first for your approval (queue Rod Serling):

BBC NEWS | Middle East | British blamed for Basra badgers: "British forces have denied rumours that they released a plague of ferocious badgers into the Iraqi city of Basra.

Word spread among the populace that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic..."

... to the second picture in the Night Gallery;

Iranians arrest 14 squirrels for spying

Iranian intelligence operatives recently detained over a dozen squirrels found within the nation's borders, claiming the rodents were serving as spies for Western powers determined to undermine the Islamic Republic.
"In recent weeks, intelligence operatives have arrested 14 squirrels within Iran's borders," state-sponsored news agency IRNA reported. "The squirrels were carrying spy gear of foreign agencies, and were stopped before they could act, thanks to the alertness of our intelligence services..."

Decades ago, I read a short story in either Amazing or Analog concerning the U.S. dropping squads of Teddy Bears on the Soviet Union. The Soviets accused the Americans of spying. The charges went nowhere until one of the Teddy Bears confessed.

I bet if the Iranians waterboarded one of the squirrels, it would confess.