Four detained embassy staff released

Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that UK foreign secretary David Miliband today called “harassment and intimidation” and reflected a hardening of the regime’s stance toward the West.

Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in post-election protests, but gave no further details. Mr Miliband said “about nine” employees were detained on Saturday and that four had been released.