In a new downturn in Iranian-British relations, Iran tried a British embassy staff on August 8, on espionage charges, sparking London’s outrage. “Based on the charges read out by the Tehran prosecution, you are accused of spying for foreigners,” the judge Abul Qasim Salavati told embassy political analyst Hossein Rassam, IRNA news agency reported. Rassam is accused of taking part in political unrest following last month’s disputed Iranian presidential elections. Prosecutors said Rassam and another Iranian employee of the embassy, who was also briefly detained, had reported to the British government on the protests. “You along with Arash Momenian were given the duty of meeting representatives of political groups, ethnic and religious minorities, and student groups and to relay the news of Iran’s riots to London,” the prosecutor told the court. Rassam was first arrested on June 27 and then released on bail on July 19 on a surety of one billion rials (100,000 dollars). According to IRNA, the espionage charges were filed based on Rassam’s confessions.
Last month’s disputed elections also witnessed rising enmity between the two countries following a speech by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who called Britain “the most treacherous” of Iran’s enemies. Following the speech, the UK expelled two Iranian diplomats after Iran forced two British diplomats to leave on accusations of supporting post-election riots. Furthermore, Iranian authorities detained eight local British embassy staff for involvement in the unrest, an action rejected by angry UK government.