Media report says man has confessed to exchanging information with four British intelligence agents

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Iranian authorities have arrested a man on charges of spying for Britain, according to media reports.

The semiofficial ISNA news agency said on Saturday that the man was arrested in the town of Kerman, south-east Iran, after authorities spent months tracking him down.

A Kerman judiciary official, who was not named by ISNA, said the man had exchanged information with four British intelligence operatives. The man has not been identified but the report says he is currently standing trial and has confessed.

It has not been suggested that the alleged spy is British, and Tehran has a history of announcing the arrest of people it claims are spying without releasing further details.

The arrest comes as Iran and Britain are patching up ties following the election of President Hassan Rouhani in June. The British embassy in Tehran was closed in late 2011 after protesters overran the building.

Earlier this month Britain made its first diplomatic visit for two years.

Non-resident charge d'affaires Ajay Sharma said he had "detailed and constructive discussions" about the UK's relationship with Iran during the talks. He also visited the embassy to assess the damage.

The thaw in relations between Tehran and the international community has also seen a deal reached over its nuclear programme.