Iran diplomat summoned by UK over journalist threat claims

Iran's astir elder diplomat successful Britain has been summoned by the Foreign Office aft alleged threats were made against journalists surviving successful the UK.

At slightest 2 journalists moving astatine UK-based absorption TV station, Iran International, person been warned by constabulary of a "threat to their lives".

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said "intimidation of immoderate kind" towards the property would not beryllium tolerated.

Iran has dismissed the accusation arsenic ridiculous.

The authorities has arrested and detained 40 journalists successful Iran pursuing ongoing protests crossed the state implicit the decease of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini successful September.

Mr Cleverly accused the authorities of "the suppression of state of look and the targeting of media outlets operating successful Iran".

Iran's complaint d'affaires, Mehdi Hosseini Matin, was summoned to the Foreign Office connected Friday afternoon, aft Iran International, a Persian-language quality channel, said 2 of its squad had been notified of threats towards them..

"I summoned the Iranian typical contiguous to marque wide that we bash not tolerate threats to beingness and intimidation of immoderate benignant towards journalists, oregon immoderate individual, surviving successful the UK," said Mr Cleverly.

At slightest 2 journalists person been warned by the Metropolitan Police of "a credible, important and imminent menace to their lives" aft a hostile Iranian reconnaissance portion was reportedly seen extracurricular their homes and offices.

Iran International said: "The UK Met Police person present formally notified some journalists that these threats correspond an imminent and important hazard to their lives and those of their families."

It added that different unit members person "also been informed directly" by the Met of "separate threats".

Iran has dismissed the accusation arsenic ridiculous but a elder Iranian authoritative has referred to Iran International arsenic a violent organisation, accusing it of stirring up protests successful Iran and threatening nationalist security, says BBC information analogous Frank Gardner.

The Met Police person contacted respective UK-based journalists implicit the past fewer years aft receiving credible accusation astir a menace to their lives, according to the Foreign Office.

Ms Amini was arrested connected 13 September by morality constabulary successful Tehran for allegedly breaking the country's strict formal code. She fell into a coma soon aft collapsing astatine a detention centre and died 3 days aboriginal successful hospital.

Protests erupted pursuing her death, with hundreds of radical reported to person died arsenic the country's information forces clamp down connected the unrest.

Last period the UK imposed sanctions connected Iran's morality constabulary and different apical information figures, successful effect to the country's convulsive crackdown connected protesters.