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Show trial fears for British Embassy staff in Iran
Scottish Daily Record ^ | July 4, 2009 | Joe Churcher

Posted on 07/04/2009 8:56:06 AM PDT by don-o

BRITAIN'S row with Iran deepened last night after the Tehran government threatened to put British Embassy staff on trial.

The Muslim clerics who call the shots in Iran accuse local workers at the embassy of fanning the anti-government protests which followed last month's disputed election.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was urgently trying to speak to his counterpart in Tehran over the legal threat to the staff.

Earlier, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful Guardian Council, claimed embassy workers had confessed to involvement in the protests.

Jannati said: "In these events, their embassy had a presence.

"Some people were arrested. Well, inevitably, they will be put on trial."

Miliband said: "We are urgently seeking clarification from the appropriate Iranian authorities. I intend to speak to foreign minister Mottaki.

"We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour. We remain deeply concerned about the two members of our staff who remain in detention."

Britain said nine Iranians who work at the embassy were arrested at the weekend. Seven were later released.

Observers say the Guardian Council are trying to make Britain a scapegoat for the protests at the controversial re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Miliband has criticised Iran's bloody crackdown on the demonstrators.

Iran has already expelled two UK diplomats over the row, with two Iranian officials ordered to leave London in response.

Britain wants all European Union nations to recall their ambassadors from Iran in protest at the detentions. But no decision has yet been taken on the move.

Recalling the ambassadors would send a powerful signal to the regime. But such radical action could also wreck any chance of making progress on the sensitive issue of Iran's nuclear programme.

Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, will chair talks among EU foreign ministers on possible sanctions against Iran, including a possible ban on regime officials travelling to Europe.

All 27 member nations yesterday summoned their Iranian ambassadors in a joint protest against the arrests.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britons; iran; ukembassy

1 posted on 07/04/2009 8:56:06 AM PDT by don-o
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To: don-o

It’s a good thing the Brits have Obama to watch their backs. He’ll soon put this right, as soon as he finished handing over the rest of Georgia to Putin.


2 posted on 07/04/2009 8:57:54 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: don-o

We should activate ex-President Carter, and have a secret raid to rescue the embassy staff. Remember to put the air filters on the helicopters this time. Once again some country is twisting the Lion’s tail. We will see how the mighty British Empire responds.

Obama, of course, will set up talks.


3 posted on 07/04/2009 9:41:50 AM PDT by Citizen Tom Paine
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