(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. has seized three dozen Iranian websites, according to a U.S. official who asked not to be identified.

A message appeared on several Iranian state-run news websites claiming they were “Seized by the United States Government.”

The web domains affected include the English-language news network Press TV and Arabic-language channels Al-Alam News and Al-Kawthar TV.

A statement by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network said the move appeared to be part of a larger-scale crackdown by the U.S. on news websites linked to what Iran calls the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Syria, Hezbollah, some Iraqi militias and Hamas.

The U.S. official didn’t provide further details. The seizure was reported earlier by outlets including Fox News.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.