Ruhollah Sam was captured in the capital, Tehran last year after years of exile in France.

Iran called the arrest on intelligence operation.

Xam Social Media Feed had more than one million followers he was convicted of for Menting violence during anti government protests in 2017.

Iranian officials have accused government opponents living in exile of stirring the unrest, which began his protests about economic hardship and spread nationwide.

Xam was the son of a pro reform that Shiite cleric he fled Iran on was given asylum in France last year.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it had trapped the journalist in a complex operation using intelligence deception.

It did not say where the operation took place.