Iranian lawyer says to seek permission to meet detained UK embassy staffer

From ANI

Tehran, July 4: An Iranian lawyer has said that he is seeking the permission of the concerned authorities here to see a detained British embassy staffer who has been accused of "acting against national security".

"I have not met with him yet, but I will ask the judiciary for an appointment," The Telegraph quoted lawyer Abolsamad Khorramshahi, as saying.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said that he is "urgently seeking clarification" from the Iranian authorities after a senior official said that some locally recruited staff of the British embassy would face trial.

Miliband said he was "deeply concerned" about staff being detained, and said he was confident that they had engaged in no illegal activities.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Guardians Council - the powerful watchdog body, claimed on Friday that embassy staff had instigated the violent protests that followed the June 12 presidential election. He said some would be prosecuted.

A total of nine local staff at the British embassy in Tehran were initially arrested late last month, but the British government said seven have since been released. Iranian state television has said just one remains in custody.

Tehran has already expelled two British diplomats since the election, prompting reciprocal expulsions by London.


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