Miliband concerned over Iran trial

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Mr Miliband said the move to indict Hossein Rassam, the embassy's chief political analyst, on charges of inciting anti-government unrest, brought "further discredit on the Iranian regime".

Amid urgent talks between Britain and Iran, the Cabinet minister said Hossein Rassam had simply been "going about his legitimate duties".

Iranian Mr Rassam was among defendants in court at the start of a mass trial of individuals accused of causing unrest following last month's disputed presidential election.

Mr Miliband said: "I am deeply concerned by the unjustified charges laid against Hossein Rassam in Tehran. Hossein is a member of our embassy staff going about his legitimate duties. Iranian action against him, and those against Clotilde Reiss and a member of the staff of the French Embassy in Tehran only brings further discredit on the Iranian regime.

"Our ambassador has raised our concerns with the Iranian deputy foreign minister, and the FCO political director Sir Mark Lyall Grant with the Iranian ambassador in London."

Ms Reiss is a French academic and Mr Miliband said European nations were united in their opposition to the move.

"We are in close contact with our European and other international partners: I have spoken to French foreign minister Kouchner and to Swedish foreign minister Bildt in his capacity as EU presidency," he said. "We have reaffirmed our solidarity in the face of this latest Iranian provocation."

An Iranian embassy official was summoned to the Foreign Office for talks following the start of the trial, an FCO spokeswoman confirmed.

Mr Rassam was one of nine officials arrested in the wake of the protests against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was the last to be released - on payment of bail of around 100,000 US dollars (£60,000) - and the only one to face charges, reported to be of espionage and harming national security. Iran has blamed Britain, along with the US and other foreign powers, of stirring dissent and actively fomenting the demonstrations which are ongoing despite brutal crackdowns.