Tehran (AFP) - Iran criticized Britain's "non-constructive" role in the protests taking place in the Islamic Republic, a day after the Revolutionary Guards announced the arrest of a London-linked network that included dual nationals.

Since September 16, Iran has been witnessing protests following the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, three days after she was arrested by the morality police for not adhering to the strict rules of dress in the Islamic Republic.

Hundreds were killed during these protests, including dozens of members of the security forces. The judiciary also charged more than 2,000 people in connection with the protests, which the authorities consider a large part of as "riots".

And the Revolutionary Guards in Kerman province (south) announced the targeting of "a terrorist network operating for Britain and involved in provoking the recent riots," according to the official news agency "IRNA" reported on Sunday.

It indicated, quoting a statement by the Guard, that the network, which was known as "Zagres", was "directly run by elements from Britain and established a team of mercenaries hostile to the Islamic Revolution (...) who were involved in provoking riots and unrest."

The statement added that "its seven main members were arrested," including "people with dual nationality who were about to flee the country, but they fell into the hands of the security forces of the Revolutionary Guards in Kerman Province."

In response to a question about the arrests, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, "Some countries, especially the country you mentioned, played a non-constructive role in connection with the current developments in Iran."

He added during his weekly press conference that the role of these countries "was provocative in inciting extremism and riots."

Iranian officials accuse the "enemies" of the Islamic Republic, led by the United States, of being involved in the "riots" with the aim of "destabilising". And the Iranian judiciary announced in November that 40 foreigners, some of them dual nationals, had been arrested on the sidelines of the protests, which entered their fourth month.

Kanaani explained that "during the recent riots, a number of European citizens were arrested, and they have well-known and clear files that were handed over to their countries."

He stressed that "the role of citizens of a number of countries, especially Western European countries, is quite clear in the recent riots."

Since before the start of the protests in mid-September, a number of foreign citizens, including dual nationals, have been arrested in Iran.

Western governments accuse Tehran of using these "hostages" in order to extract political concessions or the release of Iranian citizens detained abroad.