'Iran trial' for UK embassy staff

[Proudgrandson]

'Iran trial' for UK embassy staff


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45343000/gif/_45343195_breaking_226x170.gif
Some UK embassy staff detained in Tehran and accused of inciting protests will face trial, says the head of Iran's top legislative body.

The British foreign office said it was urgently seeking confirmation from Iran on the matter.

Nine embassy staff were held in Tehran last weekend. The UK government says all except two have now been released.

EU governments are considering temporarily withdrawing ambassadors to Iran in protest at the detentions.

"In these incidents, their embassy had a presence, some people were arrested. Naturally they will be put on trial, they have made confessions," Ahmad Jannati, the head of Iran's powerful Guardians Council, said at Friday prayers, according to news agencies.

Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after June's presidential election, amid claims the vote had been rigged in favour of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the election and stoking the unrest.

[Winger]

They can't be serious can they? They are out of their freakin' minds. :slap:

[IraGlacialis]

Hmm... and I wonder what the verdict will be...

[AZZenny]

That's a given. The question is what the punishment will be.

[Snoshi]

I predict that he will be sentenced to death, only to be changed to life time in prison after heavy EU protests. Thats how Iran usually does it.

[Mu-Meson]

Is this some kind of cultural thing where some Iranians have crazy conspiracy theories regarding Britain? I mean, the whole Great Satan thing you can kind of understand, but Britain? Ha! Hatching secret plots, and pulling the strings? I think the mad mullah's must have watched one too many James Bond movies.

[Octavariable]

they are out of their freakin' minds. :slap:

qft

.........

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Both members of staff are resident Iranian nationals so have no diplomatic immunity or am I wrong.

[Snoshi]

An Iranian lawyer has said that his client Hossein Rassam, a British Embassy staffer who remains detained over recent unrest, has been accused of "acting against national security."

Lawyer Abdol-Samad Khorramshahi told AFP on Saturday that he was seeking permission to see his client, saying, "I have not met with him yet, but I will ask the judiciary for an appointment."

"I was told by a close relative that he is accused of acting against national security,” he added.

Iran became the scene of violence in recent weeks amidst rallies staged in protest at the outcome of the June 12 presidential election -- which saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected for a second term in office.

After warning other countries against interfering in its internal affairs, the Tehran government arrested nine Iranian nationals working at the British Embassy and said that these people had played a role in encouraging the post-election violence.

The British government said that seven of those arrested in Tehran have been released. However, Iranian state television has said that just one of them remains in detention.

In a statement on Friday, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "urgently seeking clarification" from Iranian officials, dismissing allegations that the staffers were involved in any illegal act.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=99787&sectionid=351020101