International TV, a UK-based Iranian broadcaster, has closed its offices in London fter mounting threats and safety concerns against its journalists from Tehran.

Acting on advice from the Met police, International TV “reluctantly” closed its London studios after state-backed threats, a statement said, as safety concerns made it no longer possible to protect the channel’s staff and the surrounding public.

“I cannot believe it has come to this. A foreign state has caused such a significant threat to the British public on British soil that we have to move,” said Mahmood Enayat, the station’s general manager.

The channel will continue its output from its Washington DC site, while Afghanistan International TV continues as normal to broadcast from the London studios.