All schools and universities, including religious Shiite seminaries, were shut down in the holy city of Qom.

"I retained strength, energy, hope, faith to continue the struggle in order to remove this regime this year," he said.

The House of Lovers was so-called because of an inscription: “Lovers like bees live a sweet life like honey. I wish it were so”

Four majority-Muslim countries were involved in the programme, which reaches about 80,000 students every year.

The allegation was denied by the former Republican congressman named by the Assange legal team as a key witness.