Reports from Iran say several people have been detained for alleged links to the BBC’s Persian Service, which is banned in the country.
The Mehr news agency says they were involved in newsgathering, recruiting and training for Iranian journalists and had arranged trips abroad for them.
A BBC statement said no BBC Persian journalists were working inside Iran.
It said the reported arrests should be of deep concern to all those who believed in free and independent media.
On Friday, the BBC accused the Iranian authorities of intimidating those working for its Persian service.
