AFP, London, July 3, 2009 – Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday he was ’urgently seeking clarification’ over Iran’s announcement that local staff working at the Tehran embassy will face trial.
Miliband said he was ’deeply concerned’ about staff being detained, stressing his confidence that they had not engaged in illegal activities.
’We have noted the remarks by Ayatollah (Ahmad) Jannati suggesting that some of our local staff in Iran may face trial,’ Miliband said in a statement.
’We are urgently seeking clarification from the appropriate Iranian authorities. I intend to speak to Foreign Minister (Manouchehr) Mottaki.
’We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour. We remain deeply concerned about the two members of our staff who remain in detention in Iran.’
Iranian state television has said only one remains in custody.