BBC Persian journalists 'detained in Iran'

Several people with alleged links to the BBC's Persian broadcast service have been detained in Iran as the campaign of intimidation against the broadcaster intensifies.

According to the local Mehr news agency, the people arrested were involved in news-gathering, recruiting and training Iranian journalists. They are also claimed to have arranged trips abroad for local reporters.

The BBC said that its Persian television service, which is now banned in Iran, had no journalists working inside the Middle East country.

But the corporation said that the reported arrests should be of serious concern to anyone who believed in a free and independent media.

Last Friday, BBC director general Mark Thompson said that the Tehran authorities were waging a programme of "bullying and harassment" against BBC Persian.

In a blog, Thompson indicated that the BBC had seen "disturbing new tactics" used in the country, including the detention of family members of journalists working outside Iran.

He said that the previous week, the sister of a BBC Persian staff member was detained and held in solitary confinement in Iran. She has since been released.

Iran has accused the BBC of inciting unrest in the country following the contested re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009. The government also claims that the BBC is acting as a cover for British intelligence gathering.

BBC Persian previously aired videos and interviews with Iranian protesters, who detailed alleged deaths, injuries and arrests at the hands of security forces.

Thompson has warned that the issue of harassment by Iran was "wider than the BBC" as other international media faced "similar challenges".

Hen has called on the UK government and international regulatory bodies to exert pressure on Tehran to end "this campaign of intimidation, persistent censorship and a disturbing abuse of power".

> BBC: Iran jamming Persian TV service
> BBC calls on government to tackle Iran intimidation