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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Iran 'to free UK embassy worker' | Iran 'to free UK embassy worker' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The eighth of nine British embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities is to be released later, the UK foreign secretary has said. | The eighth of nine British embassy employees detained by Iranian authorities is to be released later, the UK foreign secretary has said. |
| David Miliband said "all of our efforts are now directed" at securing the release of the man still being held - the embassy's chief political analyst. | David Miliband said "all of our efforts are now directed" at securing the release of the man still being held - the embassy's chief political analyst. |
| But the lawyer for the Iranian says he has been charged with acting against national security and is facing trial. | But the lawyer for the Iranian says he has been charged with acting against national security and is facing trial. |
| Iran has accused Britain of fomenting discontent to undermine its regime. | Iran has accused Britain of fomenting discontent to undermine its regime. |
| On Sunday, Iran released a freelance journalist who was arrested last month. | On Sunday, Iran released a freelance journalist who was arrested last month. |
| Iason Athanasiadis, who holds dual British and Greek nationality, had been working in Tehran for the Washington Times and was detained as he tried to leave the country. | |
| Held in prison | Held in prison |
| Mr Miliband said he had learned the "good news" of the eighth release during his daily telephone conversation with Britain's ambassador to Iran. | Mr Miliband said he had learned the "good news" of the eighth release during his daily telephone conversation with Britain's ambassador to Iran. |
| "[The ambassador] was told by the deputy foreign minister that the eighth person would indeed be released today, that the papers had been signed, that there would not be a court process or charges," Mr Miliband said. | "[The ambassador] was told by the deputy foreign minister that the eighth person would indeed be released today, that the papers had been signed, that there would not be a court process or charges," Mr Miliband said. |
| "That leaves one more in custody and all of our efforts are now directed towards getting that person out." | "That leaves one more in custody and all of our efforts are now directed towards getting that person out." |
| It is very important that my cold anger... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime Foreign Secretary David Miliband Protest at Iran's 'evil UK' claim | It is very important that my cold anger... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime Foreign Secretary David Miliband Protest at Iran's 'evil UK' claim |
| On Saturday, the man's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi, said he had been unable to meet him in Evin prison in Tehran where he is being held, or see the text of the indictment. | On Saturday, the man's lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi, said he had been unable to meet him in Evin prison in Tehran where he is being held, or see the text of the indictment. |
| Mr Miliband said the man was "an honourable, patriotic Iranian, who has been working in a completely open and transparent way for the UK". | Mr Miliband said the man was "an honourable, patriotic Iranian, who has been working in a completely open and transparent way for the UK". |
| "The allegations of improper conduct have absolutely no basis," he said. | "The allegations of improper conduct have absolutely no basis," he said. |
| "I think it is very, very important that we send a clear message that we are confident about the way he has been doing his job [and] that we are clear about our goal, which is his release, unharmed." | "I think it is very, very important that we send a clear message that we are confident about the way he has been doing his job [and] that we are clear about our goal, which is his release, unharmed." |
| Nuclear question | Nuclear question |
| 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. |
| Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers, especially Britain and the US, of stoking unrest after the election - something they deny. | Tehran has repeatedly accused foreign powers, especially Britain and the US, of stoking unrest after the election - something they deny. |
| The embassy workers, who are all Iranian, were arrested last weekend amid accusations they had been involved in the demonstrations. | The embassy workers, who are all Iranian, were arrested last weekend amid accusations they had been involved in the demonstrations. |
| 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. |
| Protests have taken place outside the British embassy in Tehran | Protests have taken place outside the British embassy in Tehran |
| "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." |
| Mr Miliband said he was angry, but would try not to inflame the already sensitive situation further. | Mr Miliband said he was angry, but would try not to inflame the already sensitive situation further. |
| "It is very important that my anger, my cold anger, about the way our staff have been treated... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime, because that doesn't do anything either for our people or for reform in Iran," he said. | "It is very important that my anger, my cold anger, about the way our staff have been treated... doesn't turn into a rhetorical volley at the Iranian regime, because that doesn't do anything either for our people or for reform in Iran," he said. |
| "What's important is that I turn my anger into determination to see that justice is done by our people." | "What's important is that I turn my anger into determination to see that justice is done by our people." |
| Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has called the UK the "most evil" of Western governments. | Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has called the UK the "most evil" of Western governments. |
| Mr Miliband said it was "not difficult" to see why the UK had been singled out. | Mr Miliband said it was "not difficult" to see why the UK had been singled out. |
| "We are there, we have a history in Iran - some of it littered with our mistakes as well as theirs - and we have a very principled and consistent position about Iran's responsibilities in the region and more widely on the nuclear question," he said. | "We are there, we have a history in Iran - some of it littered with our mistakes as well as theirs - and we have a very principled and consistent position about Iran's responsibilities in the region and more widely on the nuclear question," he said. |
| The foreign secretary accused the Iranian regime of a "grim and gruesome" clampdown on citizens' rights following the election. | The foreign secretary accused the Iranian regime of a "grim and gruesome" clampdown on citizens' rights following the election. |