Iranian authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of 50 individuals in the northern province of Mazandaran over alleged ties to two opposition channels based in London.

In a statement aired on state television, the provincial security directorate said the detainees had communicated with Iran International and Manoto TV, providing information and locations related to security and military centers.

The arrests come as part of a broader crackdown. On March 15, Iran’s police chief Ahmad Reza Radan said around 500 people had been detained on espionage charges since the start of US and Israeli attacks, including 250 linked to Iran International.

Iran International, a Persian-language channel based in London, is known for its opposition stance toward the Iranian government.

In 2022, Iranian authorities designated the channel a “terrorist organization,” accusing it of spreading misinformation and inciting protests, and announced the seizure of assets belonging to its staff.