The three suspects allegedly sought to sell three babies between 1,800 and 2,250 euros on the social network Instagram in Iran. One of the three arrested said that he was unemployed and without money and that he acted only as an intermediary.

Iranian police have arrested three people suspected of trying to sell babies on Instagram, Isna news agency reported on Wednesday.

Babies sold between 1,800 and 2,250 euros

"Three people who wanted to sell two babies have been arrested," said Tehran police chief Hossein Rahimi, quoted by the agency. One of the babies was 20 days old and the other two months old, he said. The police were alerted by "advertisements to sell babies on Instagram". Between 10 and 15 accounts had shared the photos on the social network.

Each baby would have been bought between 50 and 100 million rials (between about 226 euros and 450 euros) before being put on sale for a sum between 400 and 500 million rials (between about 1,800 and 2,250 euros), according to Hossein Rahimi , who did not give more details. The babies were turned over to social services, he said. According to Isna, one of the three arrested claimed to be unemployed and without money and to have acted only as an intermediary.