Iranians questioned over BBC links

Iran’s intelligence chief said an unspecified number of people have been summoned for questioning over their alleged links to BBC’s Farsi-language service.

The summons come after Iranian authorities arrested six independent filmmakers earlier this month.

The BBC said its Farsi channel had bought rights to their films in the past but had not commissioned their work.

Heidar Moslehi also accused the BBC of operating as a cover for British intelligence and of seeking to harm Iran by hosting Iranian dissidents. He spoke to Iranian state TV today,

Iran blocks BBC’s Farsi service, accusing it and the British government of fomenting mass protests that broke out after Iran’s 2009 disputed presidential election.