Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards force has raided three modelling agencies, accusing the companies and their aspiring models of breaking strict Islamic dress codes for women.

General Mohsen Karimi, a commander in the city of Arak, said staff at the underground agencies had been arrested for “promoting vulgarity”, according to the semi-official Iranian news service Fars.

The report said part of the alleged offences had been the sharing of models’ portfolio pictures on social media.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly raided fashion events and targeted modelling agencies that post photographs online of models wearing Western-style clothes that do not adhere to Iran’s rules on the hijab.

“Those who disregard norms and think they can do whatever they want in cyberspace should know that, sooner or later, the hands of the law will catch up with them,” Mr Karimi was quoted as saying, without revealing how many people had been arrested.

The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Show all 20 1 /20 The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Women praying during Ashura festivities in Yazd in February Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Cars cemented in at the Holy Defence Museum-Garden in Khorramshahr – in 1980 occupying Iraqi forces used such formations to deter paratrooper landings Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Women on the Si-o-se-pol bridge over the Zayanderude river in Esfahan Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Iranian tourists at Vank cathedral in the Armenian quarter in the city of Esfahan Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on A reddened fountain in Yazd – a national motif recalling the countries ‘martyrs’ Pictures by Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Prayers before a list naming the fallen of the Iran-Iraq war in Tehran Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on In a museum in central Tehran, a wax figure of Ayatollah Khomeini Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Carom billiards in Tehran Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Nearly two thirds of Iran’s population is under-30 Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Sanctions are exacerbating poverty Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Young people are adept at catching moments of freedom, such as this one in the capital Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on At an art auction in Tehran, the wealthy turn out Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Propaganda murals are everywhere Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Tehranis love their outdoor spaces too Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on The hypersaline waters of Lake Urmia are fast diminishing – Iran faces ecological catastrophe Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on A martyr is depicted outside the huge Beheshte-e-Zahra cemetery in Tehran Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on A guard naps outside Iran’s foremost tourist attraction – the ancient ruins of Persepolis Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Memorial to Iranian pilgrims who died during a stampede in Mecca 1987 Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on The martyr fixation on display in the southern city of Shush Jan Schneider The Islamic Republic of Iran 40 years on Emamzadeh Saleh mosque in Shemiran, Tehran Jan Schneider

Iranian officials have long warned that the influence of Western and particularly US culture through the internet – and social media in particular – poses a threat to Islamic values.

Last week Iranian authorities launched an investigation into “disturbing” social media videos of schoolgirls dancing to a pop song.

The country’s education minister Mohammad Bathaei said specialists would trace the source of the videos, featuring the music of US-Iranian rapper Sasy.

Iranian authorities investigating schoolgirl dance phenomenon

“The enemy is trying different ways to create anxiety among the people including by spreading these disturbing videos,” he said. “I’m certain there’s some kind of political plot behind the publication of these devious clips in schools.”

According to the Centre for Human Rights in Iran, the videos show children – and some teachers – taking part in an online dance challenge to the song Gentleman.

The human rights body described a 2016 crackdown on the modelling industry as an attempt to “deprive Iranians of the cultural and artistic vitality that is rightfully theirs and further alienate the country’s youth”.

The organisation claimed some of those interrogated by officials had posted photos and videos on their Facebook and Instagram pages showing themselves without the hijab or wearing what the authorities have described as “un-Islamic” dresses.

“The Revolutionary Guards’ assault on Iran’s fashion industry testifies to the fear of hardliners who try to control every aspect of people’s lives and squash any visible challenge to their narrow world view,” said the Centre for Human Rights in Iran’s executive director Hadi Ghaemi.