Iran arrests 7 "riots leaders" linked to Britain

TEHRAN, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced Sunday that it has arrested "seven leaders of recent riots" who had been linked to Britain.

The IRGC branch of southern Kerman Province has dismantled "an organized network called Zagors, which was led directly by the elements from Britain and formed a team of active anti-revolutionary elements inside and outside the country," Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted a statement from the IRGC branch as saying.

The IRGC said the seven people "participated in planning, directing, producing content, and field actions in the recent riots" in Iran.

Some of them were dual nationals who were trying to flee the country, it noted.

The IRGC's Intelligence Organization is trying to identify and pursue other "internal and external elements" of the network, it said, adding that more information will be provided later.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday that police from the Iranian capital Tehran have arrested four people in the city's Enghelab Square who were "among the main perpetrators and leaders of instability calling for riots (in the city)."