**The grandson of former Iranian president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has been arrested by Iranian authorities as he entered the country.**Hassan Lahouti was arrested as he arrived in Iran from London on Sunday.
Mr Lahouti is the son of opposition supporter Faezeh Hashemi, who was herself detained briefly after opposition protests erupted in June.
Mr Rafsanjani currently holds powerful posts in Iran’s government, but backed a reform candidate in the 2009 polls.
Mr Lahouti, 23, flew to London 10 days after the protests began, it was reported by the opposition Rahesabz.com website.
He was taken to Evin prison in Tehran on the orders of a judge, it was reported.
‘Enemies’
The opposition protests were sparked by claims the election was rigged in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Rafsanjani was Iran’s president between 1989 and 1997.
He is currently the head of both the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to supervise and replace Iran’s Supreme Leader, and the arbitration body, the Expediency Council.
He is thought to be a “critical conservative”, but has been a critic of Mr Ahmadinejad, who succeeded him as president.
He Backed Mir Hossein Mousavi in the 2009 elections.
The Iranian protest movement has developed into the biggest challenge to the government since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens killed.
Opposition supporters have faced increasing pressure from the authorities, with some hardliners labelling them as “mohareb” - enemies of God who can be sentenced to death under Iran’s Sharia law.
At least nine have so far been sentenced to death and two people have reportedly been hung.