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.
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Iranian media outlet says people working for the BBC Persian service are arrested
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The BBC says there are no Persian service journalists in the country
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It accuses Iran of putting pressure on the families of BBC journalists
"In recent months, we have witnessed increased levels of intimidation alongside disturbing new tactics," he wrote on the @placeholder website on Friday.