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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| UK investigates Iran charge claim | UK investigates Iran charge claim |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The chief political analyst at the British Embassy in Iran has been charged with "acting against national security", reports suggest. | The chief political analyst at the British Embassy in Iran has been charged with "acting against national security", reports suggest. |
| The UK Foreign Office is investigating claims by his lawyer that he has been charged and will stand trial shortly. | The UK Foreign Office is investigating claims by his lawyer that he has been charged and will stand trial shortly. |
| A senior cleric has said some of the nine embassy staff arrested last month will be tried for inciting protests over Iran's disputed election. | A senior cleric has said some of the nine embassy staff arrested last month will be tried for inciting protests over Iran's disputed election. |
| Britain denies fomenting discontent to undermine Iran's Islamic regime. | Britain denies fomenting discontent to undermine Iran's Islamic regime. |
| Iranian news agencies have said all but one of the embassy staff have been released, although the UK government claims two remain in custody. | Iranian news agencies have said all but one of the embassy staff have been released, although the UK government claims two remain in custody. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman could not confirm reports that the adviser had been charged. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman could not confirm reports that the adviser had been charged. |
| "We are still investigating. The situation remains extremely unclear and fluid," she added. | "We are still investigating. The situation remains extremely unclear and fluid," she added. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation. |
| The BBC's world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley said Mr Miliband had been trying to speak to his Iranian counterpart about the situation but had so far been unable to do so. | The BBC's world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley said Mr Miliband had been trying to speak to his Iranian counterpart about the situation but had so far been unable to do so. |
| 'Confessions' | 'Confessions' |
| Our correspondent also said the embassy worker's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi had been unable to meet his client in Evin prison in Tehran where he is being held, or see the text of the indictment. | |
| Ayatollah Jannati: "After the election, the enemy made an effort to poison the people" | Ayatollah Jannati: "After the election, the enemy made an effort to poison the people" |
| Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after June's presidential election, amid claims the vote had been rigged in favour of the incumbent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after June's presidential election, amid claims the vote had been rigged in favour of the incumbent, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| On Friday, Ahmad Jannati, leader of the Iran's supreme legislative body the Guardian Council, said: "The British Embassy had a presence and some people were arrested. | On Friday, Ahmad Jannati, leader of the Iran's supreme legislative body the Guardian Council, said: "The British Embassy had a presence and some people were arrested. |
| "Well inevitably they will be put on trial. They have made confessions too." | "Well inevitably they will be put on trial. They have made confessions too." |
| However, he did not say how many employees would be tried or on what charges. | However, he did not say how many employees would be tried or on what charges. |
| Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported this week that one of the detainees had played a "remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes". | Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported this week that one of the detainees had played a "remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes". |
| Nine embassy staff were held last weekend. Britain says all but two have now been freed. | Nine embassy staff were held last weekend. Britain says all but two have now been freed. |
| Mr Milband said: "We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour." | Mr Milband said: "We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour." |
| Deterioration | Deterioration |
| The Foreign Office later confirmed that Iranian envoy Rasoul Movahedian had been summoned and the same message reiterated. | The Foreign Office later confirmed that Iranian envoy Rasoul Movahedian had been summoned and the same message reiterated. |
| IRAN UNREST 12 June presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled for electoral fraudStreet protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted Britain and Iran's fraught history Your questions answered Q&A: Election aftermath How Iran is ruled Who's who in Iran Send us your comments | IRAN UNREST 12 June presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled for electoral fraudStreet protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted Britain and Iran's fraught history Your questions answered Q&A: Election aftermath How Iran is ruled Who's who in Iran Send us your comments |
| European Union governments have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest against the detentions. | European Union governments have summoned Iranian ambassadors to protest against the detentions. |
| An EU official told the BBC that, in addition, visas for Iranians holding Iranian diplomatic passports would be suspended. | An EU official told the BBC that, in addition, visas for Iranians holding Iranian diplomatic passports would be suspended. |
| The official said other measures, including the withdrawal of EU ambassadors from Iran, would be considered if the two staff members were not released. | The official said other measures, including the withdrawal of EU ambassadors from Iran, would be considered if the two staff members were not released. |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Ayatollah Jannati's speech marks a significant deterioration in the already bad relationship between London and Tehran. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says Ayatollah Jannati's speech marks a significant deterioration in the already bad relationship between London and Tehran. |
| Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking unrest after the election. | Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking unrest after the election. |
| In the fallout from the crisis, Tehran expelled two British diplomats and the UK responded with a similar measure. | In the fallout from the crisis, Tehran expelled two British diplomats and the UK responded with a similar measure. |
| Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last month described Britain, as the "most evil" of its enemies. | Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last month described Britain, as the "most evil" of its enemies. |
| The issue of how to deal with Iran is set to dominate the summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations in Italy next week. | The issue of how to deal with Iran is set to dominate the summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations in Italy next week. |
| Some EU countries have urged caution, arguing that Europe should engage with Iran, not isolate it. | Some EU countries have urged caution, arguing that Europe should engage with Iran, not isolate it. |
| But if the embassy staff are put on trial, the EU may have few other options than to tighten the diplomatic screw, correspondents say. | But if the embassy staff are put on trial, the EU may have few other options than to tighten the diplomatic screw, correspondents say. |