IRAN’S INTELLIGENCE chief Heidar Moslehi says authorities have summoned an unspecified number of people for questioning over their alleged links to the BBC’s Farsi channel. The broadcaster is banned in Iran and any contact with it is forbidden.

Moslehi accused the BBC of working as a front for British intelligence.

Speaking on Iranian state TV yesterday, Moslehi claimed that “British intelligence services have begun a new phase of anti-Iranian activities under the cover of the BBC.”

The Tehran Times reports that Moslehi warned people who are thinking of working or cooperating with the BBC to think again, adding that Iranian intelligence officials have gathered information about people connected with the broadcaster and are investigating the matter.

Six Persian filmmakers were arrested a week ago in Iran. Iranian officials claim the men worked for the BBC, but the British broadcaster said that no one in Iran works for its Farsi-language channel.

The BBC also said that the men arrested are independent filmmakers who have never worked for the BBC, but that the broadcaster had bought the rights to broadcast some of their films. The BBC described Iran’s claims as part of a wider attempt by the authorities to put pressure on the BBC and influence its Farsi-language coverage. The company has previously accused Iran of jamming its signal.

Today, a senior official from the Iranian judiciary claimed that “by launching satellite channels, the enemies seek to harm the [ruling] system”. He added that people who work for such channels will be investigated because the channels “receive their information from intelligence and spy agencies”.

- Additional reporting by the AP

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