Iran slams Britain after protest 'network' arrested

Iran blasted Britain's "non-constructive role" a day after the Islamic republic announced the arrest of a UK-linked "network" involved in the three-month protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death.

State news agency IRNA reported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the country's south had arrested seven people, including dual nationals, who had operated "under the direct guidance of elements from Britain".

Asked about their arrest during a press conference, foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said "some countries, especially the one you mentioned, had a non-constructive role in relation to the recent developments in Iran".

"Their role was quite provocative in inciting extremism and riots," Kanani said of the foreign nations.

The seven arrested in Kerman province "have been involved in planning, leading and producing content as well as field actions in the recent riots", it added.

Some of them are "dual nationals who were trying to escape from the country", the statement said without elaborating.

Tehran generally calls the protests "riots" and accuses its foreign foes, including Britain, of stoking the unrest.

Iran's judiciary said last month that 40 foreigners, including dual nationals, had been arrested in the unrest.

A number of Westerners, including dual nationals, had already been in custody in Iran before the protests broke out in September.

Western governments have accused Tehran of employing a "hostage-taking" policy aimed at extracting concessions or securing the release of Iranians held abroad.