Irna quoted a Tehran police official, General Ali Zolhadır, as saying: "A video showing aubergines raining down in the capital was published on social media, and the police immediately identified and arrested those behind it."

Apparently the five claimed they were carrying out a research in special effects when one of these clips was accidentally posted on social media.

They also emphasised that they belong to no specific group or movement. Nevertheless the five were detained. 

One of the viral clips shows a man trying to pose for a photo with Tehran’s Milad Tower in the background when suddenly a hail of aubergines starts coming down.

Irna said the video was apparently made by someone "named Amin Taghipour, an Iranian living in Canada proficient in special effects who works in Hollywood."

The man had visited Iran for his father’s funeral but, said the agency, "his flight back was cancelled over the coronavirus outbreak and now he is trying to have fun."