BBC website blocked by Iran regime

The Iranian regime has started to block the BBC’s Persian language internet site, for the first time according to a statement by the corporation.

Use of the site from within Iran had fallen substantially over the past three days and it was being blocked "at the request of the authorities," said the BBC.

There has been no official explanation by the Iranian regime and the BBC has expressed regret at the action.

Nigel Chapman, director of the BBC World Service, said they were "very concerned" by the development and would request that Teheran reinstated access to BBC services for the Iranian public.