'Outrage' as Iran tries UK Embassy worker
Updated on 08 August 2009
The Foreign Office has expressed its "outrage" over the decision of Iranian authorities to put on trial a worker at the British Embassy in Tehran today. Watch Roz Upton's report.
A spokeswoman confirmed that Hossein Rassam was pictured among the accused at a mass trial which began this morning.
"This is completely unacceptable and directly contradicts assurances we had been given repeatedly by senior Iranian officials."
The nine staff were held after the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the street protests that followed.
Mr Rassam's lawyer said last month that he had been released on bail but charged with harming national security for alleged involvement in the protests.
He was released from Evin prison in Tehran on bail of about $100,000, the lawyer said.
He is the only one of the nine local employees to be charged.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said following the release: "I am very glad Hossein Rassam has been released. The release of all of our staff has remained an important priority throughout the past three weeks, and has required intensive discussions with the Iranian authorities.
"This has included my conversations with Foreign Minister (Manuchehr) Mottaki, who has, with his deputy, kept us informed of developments.
"I am grateful to our European partners for their solidarity and support in resolving this issue.
"The detention of embassy staff was completely unjustified: I am confident that none of them were involved in any improper behaviour."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said then: "We remain extremely concerned about the issue, and continue to take it up with the Iranian authorities."
