Iran's Elite Forces Intelligence Service Holds Seven People Related To Britain, Called The Leader Of Anti-Government Protests

The arrests of protesters in Iran. (Wikimedia Commons/Mostafa Tehorani)

JAKARTA - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) arrested seven people with ties to Britain on Sunday, including some who have dual citizenship at anti-government protests that rocked the country, according to a statement published by state media.

"The seven main leaders of the recent protests related to Britain were detained by the IRGC intelligence service, including dual citizens who tried to leave the country," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Britain's Foreign Ministry said it was seeking further information from Iranian authorities about reports that British-Iran dual nationals had been arrested in the country.

The reported arrests followed protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death in custody on September 16, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish who was arrested for wearing "improper clothes" under strict dress codes for women.

Protests, in which demonstrators from all walks of life called for the fall of Iran's ruling theocracy, have been one of the biggest challenges for a Shia Muslim-controlled country since the 1979 Revolution.

The government blamed the unrest on demonstrators determined to damage public property, saying they were trained and armed by enemies including the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

Last week, the beautiful actress Tar Strange Alidoosti, one of Iran's most famous, was detained by security forces in Tehran days after she criticized the country's use of the death penalty against protesters, citing The Guardian.

Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, said he was arrested for his decision to issue false and deviant content that sparked riots, and supported the anti-Iran movement.