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Iran Cleric Says British Embassy Staff to Be Tried

A top Iranian cleric said Friday that some of the detained Iranian staffers of the British Embassy in Tehran will be put on trial, and he accused Britain of a role in instigating widespread protests that erupted over the country's disputed presidential election.

The announcement by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati came a day after the European Union demanded Iran release the staffers, who were detained on June 27. Britain is pressing EU countries to pull their ambassadors out of Tehran in protest.



Jannati, a powerful hard-liner who is close to Iran's supreme leader, told worshippers during a Friday prayer sermon in Tehran that the detained staffers "made confessions."

"In these events, their embassy had a presence," he said, referring to the post-election turmoil. "Some people were arrested. Well, inevitably, they will be put on trial."

He did not say how many staffers will be tried or on what charges. Earlier Iranian officials said all but one of the nine embassy personnel originally arrested had been released, but European Union officials said they believed more than one was still being held.

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In London, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said of Jannati's comments that British officials are "very concerned about these reports and are investigating."

In Sweden, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said "it's not acceptable to file charges against the ones released or the ones still in custody," though he added that the report had not yet been confirmed.

Jannati does not hold a position in the government or judiciary, but is the head of the Guardian Council, a powerful body in Iran's ruling clerical hierarchy that stands above the elected government. He is also close to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Jannati told the thousands of worshippers that the British "had designed a velvet revolution ... In March, they said (in their Foreign Ministry) that street riots were possible during June elections. These are signs ... revealed by themselves."

Protests erupted in Tehran and other cities after official results showed a landslide victory for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the June 12 presidential election over his pro-reform rival Mir Hossein Mousavi. The pro-reform camp said the results were fraudulent.

The protests were quashed in a tough crackdown, and Iran's police chief has said 20 "rioters" were killed during the unrest. During his sermon, Jannati said seven or eight members of the paramilitary Basij militia were also killed. Basijis took a leading role in putting down the protests, often clashing with demonstrators.

Iran's ruling clerics have called the elections "pure" and "healthy" following Khamenei's declaration that the results would stand.

Still, Mousavi appears driven to maintain his opposition and even to raise the stakes — though there have been no protests since Sunday. In a challenging statement on Wednesday, he said he considered the government illegitimate and demanded political prisoners be released.

Jannati took a tough line, indirectly accusing Mousavi of treason.

Though he did not name Mousavi directly, Jannati pointed out that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, once said that "anyone disrupts unity has not only committed a sin but also has committed treason against the Islamic Republic and the system."

Jannati demanded that those involved in the protests "repent and ask God to forgive them."

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Wonder if the "Oval Office god" will dispatch an IPod much like in a Mission Impossible Movie to the Queen and Bro. Brown, describing the "Great Escape Plan" he has for the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) to Rescue the Endangered British Staffers. (of course it will 'Self Destruct' once they listen to the message and he will disavow any involvement if caught)

Now we will see the Really Tough and Bad Ass TOTUS get Unleashed and go nuts on these Iranian MOFO's !!!!!

They all best be diggin' Nuclear Fallout Shelters as we speak if Obamagog has gotten this news yet ....

I am down right scared to death over what this Mad Man Across the Water is gonna do he is such a Bad Dude ....



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(07-03-2009 07:58 PM)Tripster Wrote:  Now we will see the Really Tough and Bad Ass TOTUS get Unleashed and go nuts on these Iranian MOFO's !!!!!

Yeah, he'll apologize to them right after handing them bail out billions - that will show 'em.

From Times Online July 4, 2009

Miliband seeks talks with Iran over 'show trial'



Foreign Secretary David Miliband is seeking urgent talks with Iran over a possible ‘show trial’ of British embassy employees.

Iran arrested nine local members of the British embassy last month and has charged one with "acting against national security”.

The 44-year-old-political analyst, named by his lawyer as Hossein Rassam, could now face trial in Tehran.

The Iranian government claims Britain is responsible for inciting a wave of protests against the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In a sermon on Thursday Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful Guardian Council, claimed the British embassy staff had confessed to their involvement.

He said: "In these events, their embassy had a presence. Some people were arrested and well, inevitably, they will be put on trial,"

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation and is trying to contact his Iranian counterpart.

Mr Miliband added: "We have noted the remarks by Ayatollah Jannati suggesting that some of our local staff in Iran may face trial.

"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."

Hossein Rassam and another embassy worker are still being held at Tehran's Evin Prison.

Rassam’s lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi said: "Apparently he will be put on trial. We have prepared and submitted the defence documents and I have to see the judge next week."

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described Britain, as the "most evil" of its enemies at sermon last month calling for an end to the protests.

(07-03-2009 07:58 PM)Tripster Wrote:  .

Wonder if the "Oval Office god" will dispatch an IPod much like in a Mission Impossible Movie to the Queen and Bro. Brown, describing the "Great Escape Plan" he has for the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) to Rescue the Endangered British Staffers. (of course it will 'Self Destruct' once they listen to the message and he will disavow any involvement if caught)

Now we will see the Really Tough and Bad Ass TOTUS get Unleashed and go nuts on these Iranian MOFO's !!!!!

They all best be diggin' Nuclear Fallout Shelters as we speak if Obamagog has gotten this news yet ....

I am down right scared to death over what this Mad Man Across the Water is gonna do he is such a Bad Dude ....



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Damn it. THat is the last straw. We need to go and nuke them NOW.

(07-04-2009 04:19 PM)RobertN Wrote:  

(07-03-2009 07:58 PM)Tripster Wrote:  .

Wonder if the "Oval Office god" will dispatch an IPod much like in a Mission Impossible Movie to the Queen and Bro. Brown, describing the "Great Escape Plan" he has for the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) to Rescue the Endangered British Staffers. (of course it will 'Self Destruct' once they listen to the message and he will disavow any involvement if caught)

Now we will see the Really Tough and Bad Ass TOTUS get Unleashed and go nuts on these Iranian MOFO's !!!!!

They all best be diggin' Nuclear Fallout Shelters as we speak if Obamagog has gotten this news yet ....

I am down right scared to death over what this Mad Man Across the Water is gonna do he is such a Bad Dude ....



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Damn it. THat is the last straw. We need to go and nuke them NOW.

Now you're talking.