British Embassy employee freed on bail in Iran

The lawyer for an Iranian employee of the British Embassy accused of involvement in post-election protests says his client has been released on bail.

Abdolsamad Khorramshi says Hossein Rassam, the embassy’s chief political analyst, was released from Evin prison in Tehran today on bail of about €71,000.

Mr Rassam was jailed on June 27 and has been charged with harming national security.

Iran arrested nine local employees of the British Embassy in June, saying they were involved in protests that followed last month’s disputed presidential election. The others were released, and Mr Rassam is the only one who has been charged.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told the BBC the claims against the staff had no substance.