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Iran 'frees more British staff' Iran 'frees more British staff'
(30 minutes later)
Three more Iranian British embassy staff have been released by the authorities in Tehran, Iran's state-run Press TV reports.Three more Iranian British embassy staff have been released by the authorities in Tehran, Iran's state-run Press TV reports.
Nine members of embassy staff were detained at the weekend and Press TV said all bar one have now been freed. Nine embassy employees were detained at the weekend and Press TV said all but one had now been freed.
Iran said the employees had had a role in protests against last month's disputed presidential election. Iran said the staff had had a role in protests against the disputed presidential election result.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown again expressed "deep disappointment" at the Iranian authorities' conduct. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown again expressed "deep disappointment" at the Iranian authorities' conduct.
He told a news conference at Downing Street on Wednesday that Iran was trying to blame its post-election protests on Britain.He told a news conference at Downing Street on Wednesday that Iran was trying to blame its post-election protests on Britain.
"This action is unjustified and it is unacceptable and some people in Iran are trying to seek to use Britain as an explanation for the legitimate Iranian voices calling for greater openness and democracy," he said."This action is unjustified and it is unacceptable and some people in Iran are trying to seek to use Britain as an explanation for the legitimate Iranian voices calling for greater openness and democracy," he said.
Britain has strongly protested against the arrests. The state media's announcement that three more staff had been released comes after five of their colleagues were freed Monday.
Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the election. Iran's semi-official Fars television station reported that one of the detainees had played a "remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes".
Earlier, Iran's semi-official Fars television station reported that one of the detainees had played a "remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes". Britain had strongly protested against the arrests.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the arrests were "completely contrary to the sort of good political engagement that Iran says that it wants".British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the arrests were "completely contrary to the sort of good political engagement that Iran says that it wants".
Questions remains
Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the election.
The BBC's Diplomatic Correspondent, Jonathan Marcus, says the release of the staff will go some way to repairing damaged ties between Iran and the European Union.
But many questions still remain over how the West should deal with Iran in the post-election unrest which left at least 17 people dead, says our correspondent.
EU governments have considered temporarily withdrawing their ambassadors to Iran in protest and will be seeking to ensure the remaining embassy staff member is released.
The problem is that western countries must continue to talk to Iran about its nuclear programme, and Iran would also use any external pressure as proof of interference in its affairs, our correspondent adds.