Mojtaba Pourmohsen of news channel Iran International has been branded an enemy of the state

Iran is waging a campaign of intimidation against journalists at a UK-based television channel, freezing assets, interrogating relatives and threatening to snatch them from British streets if they do not quit their jobs.

The Islamic republic’s intelligence ministry has branded employees of Iran International, a Farsi news channel based in west London, enemies of the state after they reported on violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Iran last month.

Video of riots over a gas price rise that left more than 200 dead was broadcast via satellite from the network’s headquarters in Chiswick. Despite efforts by Tehran to jam the signal, the 24-hour news channel claims to reach 20m viewers, who tune in using rooftop dishes that are illegal in Iran.

Sadeq Saba,