Iran is considering pressing charges against a British embassy staffer and a Newsweek journalist, as well as several reformist leaders.

It comes as the regime intensifies its crackdown on protests over last month’s presidential election.

The accused include key figures from the reformist 1997-2005 presidency of Mohammad Khatami who oversaw a thaw in relations with the West. They are all held suspected of “acting against national security”, lawyers have said.

Prosecutions would spark a new downturn in Tehran’s relations with the West. On Friday, European Union governments called in Iranian envoys across the 27-nation bloc in protest at the detention of British embassy staff.

Lawyer Abolsamad Khorramshahi said he was seeking permission to see detained embassy political analyst Hossein Rassam.

“I have not met with him yet, but I will ask the judiciary for an appointment,” Khorramshahi said. “I was told by a close relative that he is accused of acting against national security.”

Nine local staff at London’s embassy in Tehran were initially arrested last month, but the British government said seven have been released.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the head of the Guardians Council - the powerful watchdog body that upheld hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election - said on Friday that embassy staff had instigated the post-election protests and that some would face prosecution.

A second lawyer acting for Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari said he too has been unable to see clients.

Saleh Nikbakht said that he was also representing former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Amizadeh, as well as ex-government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh, former deputy economy minister Mohsen Safai-Farahani and former vice-president Mohammad Ali Abtahi.

Sorce:http://www.7days.ae

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