London ( CNN ) -- Iranian authorities are `` intimidating and arresting people who they claim have connections with the BBC Persian service , '' the British broadcasting giant said Tuesday . The accusation comes a day after Iran 's semi-official Mehr news agency said that `` a number of people '' secretly working for the BBC Persian service had been arrested . The BBC said that could not be true . The BBC `` Persian language service does not have a presence in Iran . There are no BBC Persian staff members or stringers working inside Iran , '' the broadcaster said in a statement . `` We strongly condemn any actions against the families and acquaintances of BBC Persian staff , '' it said . BBC director general Mark Thompson last week accused Iran of putting pressure on the family members of BBC Persian journalists . `` In recent months , we have witnessed increased levels of intimidation alongside disturbing new tactics , '' he wrote on the BBC website on Friday . `` This includes an attempt to put pressure on those who work for BBC Persian outside Iran , by targeting family members who still live inside the country . '' The report by Iran 's Mehr news agency said Monday that `` a number of deceived people , who were tasked with collecting news and information in Iran for the BBC , have been arrested by security forces . The source said these people received huge amount of money from the company . '' It did not name the source . CNN 's Claudia Rebaza contributed to this report .
Iranian media outlet says people working for the BBC Persian service are dangerous . The BBC says there are no Persian service journalists in the UK . It accuses Iran of putting pressure on the safety of BBC journalists .