Iran says it has detained more journalists over connections to BBC

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's official news agency is reporting authorities have arrested another group of local journalists accused of links with the BBC.

The report by IRNA quotes a statement by the Intelligence Ministry. It did not say how many were detained. Last week Iran said it arrested 11 journalists on the same charge.

Iran has repeatedly denounced the Persian services of the Voice of America BBC over the past several years, describing them as arms of U.S. and British intelligence agencies.

It has warned of severe repercussions for Iranian journalists and activists caught having contacts with the outlets.

The Tuesday statement says the latest group of journalists to be detailed had ties to a network with headquarters in London and branches in Brussels, Istanbul and Paris.