News

Police in Iran have arrested internationally acclaimed filmmaker Jafar Panahi and his family.

Plainclothes police broke into Mr Panahi's family home and arrested him, his wife and daughter and 15 other guests, his son Panah told reporters.

The director, known for his social realism, has made several films critical of Iran's regime.

The Tehran prosecutor's office has confirmed the arrest to reporters but denied it was connected to politics.

"At about 10 on Monday evening several plainclothes agents broke into the house," Panah Panahi told an opposition website.

They arrested everyone who was there and searched the house taking away computers and other personal belongings, he said.