The Foreign Office said Mr Rassam was denied "basic human rights"
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Foreign Secretary David Miliband says he is "deeply concerned" over the trial in Iran of a British Embassy worker. Iranian Hossein Rassam is accused in Tehran of spying and inciting unrest after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election in June. Mr Miliband said the charges against the embassy's chief political analyst were unjustified and the trial "brings further discredit" on Iran's regime. Mr Rassam was among the accused at a mass trial which began on Saturday. Mr Miliband said: "I am deeply concerned by the unjustified charges today laid against Hossein Rassam in Tehran. "Hossein is a member of our embassy staff going about his legitimate duties. 'Rigged election' "Iranian action against him, and those against [French teacher] 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 today with the Iranian deputy foreign minister, and the FCO Political Director, Sir Mark Lyall Grant with the Iranian ambassador in London." Mr Miliband said European nations were united in their opposition to the trial.
He said he was in close contact with members of the EU and had spoken with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who is the current EU President. "We have reaffirmed our solidarity in the face of this latest Iranian provocation," said Mr Miliband. Mr Rassam was one of nine officials arrested in the wake of the protests against the re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was released on bail last month, a move welcomed by the foreign secretary. Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking up the demonstrations. Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says the vote was rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad. The president and Iran's main election body, the Council of Guardians, have rejected the charge.
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We have reaffirmed our solidarity in the face of this latest Iranian provocation
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