The Association for International Broadcasting condemned the freezing of assets of journalists working for Iran International by the Iranian authorities.

The move, reported by the Fars news agency in Tehran, imposes legal restrictions on journalists working at Iran International. The asset freeze comes in the wake of the Iranian government’s failure to stop reporting by Iran International of the crackdown on protestors in the country following the threefold rise in petrol prices.

In addition to the asset freeze, Iran International’s satellite television signal has been jammed as the authorities in Tehran attempt to prevent viewers in Iran watch the channel.

Simon Spanswick, the Chief Executive of AIB said: “We are appalled by this latest attempt by Iran’s government to silence journalists who are reporting news from and about Iran.”

“The Iranian government is once again trying to use a jurisprudence dragnet to intimidate journalists and their families. At the same time, it is seeking to restrict access to news and information by its own citizens. The Association for International Broadcasting and its Members – who collectively serve audiences of over one billion people every week – call on the Iranian government to immediately cease from this act of harassment and intimidation and to lift the asset freezes immediately. The jamming of the channel’s signal must also end,” Spanswick added.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has previously used the same tactic of harassment on BBC Persian employees.