A diplomatic battle is raging between Britain and Iran.
Over the weekend, Tehran arrested several British embassy staff members for allegedly encouraging the post-election unrest that has bloodied the country for over two weeks.
Although some of the staff has been released, the fact that some are still being held could mean further tensions between the two countries.
[Interview : Hassan Qashqavi, Spokesman
Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs] "Out of nine people, five of them have been released and the rest are being interrogated."
All of those arrested were employed locally and did not have diplomatic immunity.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Sunday that the European Union had agreed to a "strong, collective response" to any such "harassment and intimidation" against EU missions.
[Interview : David Miliband
British Foreign Secretary] "This is harassment and intimidation of a kind which is quite unacceptable."
The foreign secretary added that the idea that the British embassy is behind the protests that have been taking place in Tehran is "wholly without foundation."
These arrests come amid a tit-for-tat set of diplomatic measures last week.
Iran expelled two British diplomats to which Britain responded by expelling two Iranians.
Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers of stoking unrest after the June 12th presidential election, singling out Britain and the United States.
Both have expressed concern about the regime's crackdown on opposition supporters who claim incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by a landslide through massive fraud.
Ahn Ji-su, Arirang News.
JUN 29, 2009
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
