Iran frees a British embassy employee, another still held

August 9th, 2009 TEHRAN - Britain's troubled relations with Iran suffered a further setback as a British embassy official confessed to spying during a trial in Tehran, saying that Britain had provided financial assistance to Iran's reformists to weaken the hardline clerical regime during the disputed presidential elections in June this year. Hossein Rassam, a political analyst with the embassy, said the embassy had allocated a budget of 300,000 pounds to set up links with political groups, individuals and activists.

August 9th, 2009 LONDON - Troubled relations between Britain and Iran have been further aggravated by the inclusion of a British embassy official at a mass trial in Tehran. The British Foreign Office has said it was "outraged" that Hossein Rassam, a political analyst with the embassy, was on trial.

August 8th, 2009 UK says its embassy staffer on trial in TehranLONDON —Britain's Foreign Office says a staff member at its embassy in Iran has been put on trial in Tehran. The ministry says it saw Hossein Rassam pictured among those accused at a mass trial that began Saturday in the Iranian capital, though Rassam had been released from detention in July.

July 20th, 2009 LONDON - Iran has released the last British Embassy official, who was held three weeks ago on the alleged charges of being behind last month's post-election violence in the country. Hossein Rassam, an Iranian national, worked at the Embassy as an expert on Iranian politics.

July 19th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran Sunday freed a British embassy staffer, the last of nine arrested on suspicion in fomenting dissent after alleged fraud in Iran's June 12 presidential elections. Hossein Rassam, chief analyst of the British embassy, had been detained for more than three weeks.

July 17th, 2009 American's family fears Iranian show trialWASHINGTON — The family and associates of an Iranian-American scholar under arrest in Iran say they are worried that the Islamic Republic is preparing to bring him before a show trial. Iranian state-run Press TV has reported that Kian Tajbakhsh was arrested last week for working with a local employee of the British Embassy, Hossein Rassam, who also is being held in Tehran.

July 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran is set to use a travel advisory posted on the British Foreign Office's website as evidence against a British Embassy employee in the political plot trial. British embassy's chief political analyst Hossein Rassam, 44, was accused of being a British agent provocateur behind last month's post-election street protests, the Telegraph reports.

July 4th, 2009 British embassy employee in Iran chargedTEHRAN — The lawyer for a detained Iranian employee of the British embassy in Tehran says his client has been charged with "acting against national security." Lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshi says his client is being held in Evin prison and will in all likelihood stand trial soon. The lawyer on Saturday identified his client as Hossein Rassam, the embassy's chief political analyst, and said he had not yet been able to meet with him or see the text of the indictment.

June 29th, 2009 LONDON - The Gordon Brown Government in Britain has reacted to the arrest of at least eight Iranians working for the British Embassy in Tehran, calling the move unacceptable "harassment and intimidation". According to The Times, the eight, who are thought to work in the embassy's political section, are accused of playing a "significant role" in opposition protests.

June 29th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran is not planning to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain or any European country, foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday. Police arrested eight Iranian staff members of the British embassy in Tehran Sunday, a move condemned by British Foreign Minister David Miliband.

June 28th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran has arrested eight local staff members of the British embassy in Tehran for alleged involvement in demonstrations over the June 12 presidential election, Fars news agency reported Sunday. Iran accuses Western agents of inciting unrest and interfering in internal political matters.

June 28th, 2009 UK calls embassy detentions in Iran 'unacceptable'CORFU, Greece — Britain's foreign secretary categorically denied Sunday that his country had helped foment postelection discontent in Iran. David Miliband, who is on the Greek island of Corfu for a meeting of foreign ministers' from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, condemned the detention of British Embassy employees in Iran, which he said occurred Saturday.

June 23rd, 2009 LONDON - Britain would expel two Iranian diplomats after the Iranian government ordered two British diplomats to leave the country, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday. Brown told parliament that the allegations made against the two British diplomats were "absolutely without foundation".

June 23rd, 2009 LONDON - The ongoing violence in Iran is forcing families of British embassy staff to leave the country. At least 12 relatives were packing bags last night.

May 4th, 2009 Russian ship frees Iranians seized with piratesMOSCOW — Iran's embassy in Moscow says a Russian warship has freed eight Iranians who were seized along with suspected Somali pirates last week. The embassy says the Iranians had been held captive by the pirates for almost three months, and has praised the Russian Navy for the rescue.