Saudi Arabia is trying 32 people for spying on behalf of Iran, local media report.

Thirty of the suspects are Saudi citizens, though members of the Shi'ite minority. The other two are from Iran and Afghanistan. All were arrested in 2013, which led to concerns that the kingdom was cracking down on Shi'ites.

The specific charges include creating a spy ring with Iranian intelligence, providing Iran with sensitive military information, intending to harm Saudi Arabia's economic interests, damaging communal cohesion and inciting sectarian strife.