Breaking: Iran To Put British Embassy Staff On Trial Over Election Unrest
Jul 3, 2009 2 Comments ›› Pat Dollard
Some local British Embassy staff in Tehran will go on trial accused of playing a role in post-election violence, says the head of Iran’s powerful Guardians Council.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who is close to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made the announcement during a prayer sermon.
He said the detained embassy staff had “made confessions”.
“In these developments their embassy here maintained a presence in which individuals were arrested and inevitably they will be tried as they have (made) confessions,” he told worshippers in Tehran.
But he did not say how many employees will be tried or on what charges.
“We are very concerned at these reports and are invstigating them,” Britain’s foreign said in a statement.
“The allegations that embassy staff were involved in instigating the recent demonstrations are wholly without foundation.
“We are urgently seeking an explanation.”
It added: “It remains our top priority to secure release of all British Embassy staff.
“We are continuing intensive discussions with the Iranian authorities and our international partners.”
Earlier Iranian officials said all but one of the eight embassy personnel arrested on June 27 had been released.
However, European Union officials said they believe more than one is still being held.
