Police arrested 262 people overnight Sunday, including diplomats and other foreigners, during a new year party in a northern Tehran villa, the daily Dorran-e-Emruz reported Wednesday.
The newspaper said Arab diplomats, one British and an Indian were among those arrested, along with more than 100 women.
All were taken to Tehran's Evin prison and should appear before a court which specializes in "social offenses", the paper said.
People arrested in so-called "depraved parties" can face sentences ranging from fines, to a few days of imprisonment or even whipping.
Dorran-e-Emruz quoted an interior ministry spokesman as saying only 40 were still detained.
The spokesman told the paper that those who were arrested "looked revolting", meaning they were wearing western clothes and the women were not veiled.
The spokesman added no ambassador was arrested. However, he said a member of an embassy staff and a waiter from another Arab embassy were arrested.
The Fereshteh, Elahieh and Vanak quarters of Tehran all witnessed police round ups at new year parties last Sunday.
Around 300,000 Christians, mainly Armenians, live in Shiite Muslim Iran but the new year is also celebrated in Tehran's rich neighborhoods -- TEHRAN (AFP)
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