Iraq frees 36 Iranian opposition membersOctober 7th, 2009 BAGHDAD - Iraqi authorities Wednesday freed 36 members of an Iranian opposition group detained during July clashes between Iraqi security forces and members of the group. The detainees were taken into custody during clashes between members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) and Iraqi security forces entering the group's base at Camp Ashraf in northern Iraq.
Western powers expect 'serious response' from Iran during Oct. 1 meetingSeptember 23rd, 2009 Western powers expect 'serious response' from IranUNITED NATIONS — The international community expects a "serious response" from Iran in discussions about Tehran's nuclear program at a meeting next month, the British foreign secretary said Wednesday. Six global powers are to hold talks with Iranian representatives Oct.
Iran hopes Britain will correct past behaviour: AhmadinejadSeptember 13th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday said he hopes the British government would "correct its past behaviour" towards the Islamic country, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. "We hope that the British government would learn well from its past and move on the path of correcting its behaviour," Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with new British Ambassador to Iran Simon Gass.
Iran gas pipeline deal is not off, says Murli DeoraSeptember 11th, 2009 LONDON - Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora has denied reports that India has quit plans to build a gas pipeline with Iran and Pakistan. No, it's not off, Deora told journalists here Thursday.
US testing system to beat web censorship in China and IranAugust 14th, 2009 BOSTON - The US government is covertly testing technology in China and Iran that will allow citizens to by-pass internet censorship set up by their governments. The Telegraph quoted a senior official at the Broadcasting Board of Governors, an independent US government agency, as saying : "We have people testing it in China and Iran."
Ken Berman, the Board's IT chief, however,provided few details on the new system, which is in the early stages of testing.
British embassy official confesses to spying during trial in IranAugust 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.
Britain outraged by inclusion of embassy official in Iran mass trialAugust 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.
Iran frees British embassy staffer on bailJuly 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.
Iran frees a British embassy employee, another still heldJuly 6th, 2009 LONDON - One of the last two British Embassy employees, held in Iran on the alleged charges of being behind last month's post-election violence in the country, has been released. The British Foreign Office on Monday confirmed the news, but added that embassy's chief political analyst Hossein Rassam is still under detention.
Iran to use UK travel advisory as "proof" against British Embassy employeeJuly 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.
Not downgrading diplomatic ties with Britain, says IranJune 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.
8 British embassy staff members arrested in Iran: ReportJune 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.
Britain expels Iranian diplomats in tit-for-tat moveJune 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".
Russian warship frees 8 Iranian citizens seized along with piratesMay 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.
British Council suspends Iran operations over 'intimidation'February 4th, 2009 LONDON - The British Council, Britain's cultural diplomacy arm, has suspended its operations in Tehran with its head accusing the Iranian government Thursday of trying to intimidate staff. The cultural and educational body closed Jan 31 after the Iranian president's office asked most of its 16 local employees to resign, the British Council said.