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Embassy arrests deepen Iran row
THE diplomatic row between Britain and Iran intensified last night after eight employees at the British Embassy in Tehran were arrested.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband branded the action "completely unacceptable", while the European Union warned of a "strong and collective response" to harassment.
The latest dispute emerged yesterday morning when Iranian media announced that the embassy staff had been detained because of their "considerable role" in unrest which followed contested elections on June 12.
Tehran has accused London of interfering in its internal affairs by criticising the heavy-handed reaction to protests, sparking a round of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.
Speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Corfu, Mr Miliband said: "This is harassment and intimidation of a kind that is quite unacceptable.
"The idea that the British Embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran in recent weeks is wholly without foundation.
"We have protested in strong terms, directly to the Iranian authorities."
Mr Miliband said "about nine" employees were detained on Saturday and added that four had been released.
The EU later issued a joint statement demanding that Iran should abide by international rules protecting local diplomatic staff, and release all those arrested. It is was not clear how many were still being detained.
The foreign ministers said they wanted to make it "clear to the Iranian authorities that harassment or intimidation of foreign or Iranian staff working in embassies will be met with a strong and collective EU response".
The statement went on: "They condemn the continued arrest and detention of peaceful demonstrators and journalists, and the increasing restrictions on both the domestic and foreign media."
The Iranian authorities have yet to respond to the protests from Britain and the EU. But the detentions signalled a further toughening of Iran's dealings with the West.
Iranian Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has alleged massive fraud in the June 12 presidential election and says he is the rightful winner, not President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran has accused the West of stoking unrest, singling out Britain and the US for alleged meddling. Last week, Iran expelled two British diplomats, and Britain responded in kind. Iran has also said it is considering downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain.
The confrontation with the West appears to be dashing hopes for a new dialogue, as initially envisioned by US President Barack Obama when he took office.
Mr Obama wants to engage Iranian leaders in talks over the country's suspect nuclear programme which the US and other western countries worry is aimed at developing nuclear weapons. Iran defends its nuclear programme as civilian in nature.
On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the 27-nation bloc would "like very much" to restart nuclear talks with Tehran despite the rising tensions.
Meanwhile witnesses in Iran yesterday said police had clashed with up to 3,000 protesters e in north Tehran.
They say security forces fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, and some demonstrators fought back, chanting: "Where is my vote?"
Witnesses at the scene said that some protesters claimed they suffered broken arms or legs in the clashes around the Ghoba Mosque.
They said some young demonstrators screamed at police and then attacked them after the officers allegedly beat an elderly woman.
The reports could not immediately be independently verified.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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