Britain calls for united stance against Tehran by EUBy Ali Akbar Dareini in Tehran
A top aide to Iran's supreme leader called the country's main opposition figure a US agent and accused him in an editorial yesterday of committing crimes against the nation.
While hard-liners had demanded Mir Hossein Mousavi, below, be prosecuted for describing Iran's June 12 election as fraudulent and leading demonstrations, the editorial was the first public declaration that he was a foreign agent.
After quashing the post-election street demonstrations, Iran's leadership has been trying to erase any lingering doubts about the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election by portraying the unrest as sparked by foreign meddling.
"It has to be asked whether the actions of Mousavi and his supporters are in response to instructions of American authorities," said Hossein Shariatmadari in the editorial in the conservative daily Kayhan.
Shariatmadari, a close adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with no official position, added that Mousavi was trying to "escape punishment for murdering innocent people, holding riots, cooperating with foreigners and acting as America's fifth column".
He called for Mousavi and former reformist president Mohammad Khatami to be tried for "horrible crimes and treason". The editorial added that there were "undeniable documents" proving Mousavi's foreign links.
Shariatmadari's comments come as confirmation emerged yesterday that the chief political analyst at the British Embassy in Iran has been charged with "acting against national security".
The analyst, Hossein Rassam, is being held at Tehran's Evin prison according to his lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshi, who says he has not been able to meet his client or see the text of the indictment.
On Friday, another powerful hardline cleric said Iran would put detained local employees of the British embassy on trial for involvement in the demonstrations.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful Guardian Council, claimed staff had made confessions but did not say how many faced trial or on what charges. "In these events, their embassy had a presence," he said. "Some people were arrested. Well, inevitably, they will be put on trial," he said.
The latest announcements from the regime fuelled calls in Europe for tougher action against Tehran. Britain is pressing for EU members to pull their ambassadors out of Tehran to protest the staffers' arrests last week.
The Foreign Office yesterday defended British Embassy staff in Iran against threats to put them on trial. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was seeking urgent talks with his counterpart in Tehran. He said: "We have noted the remarks by Ayatollah Jannati suggesting some of our local staff in Iran may face trial. We are urgently seeking clarification from the appropriate Iranian authorities. I intend to speak to Foreign Minister (Manouchehr) Mottaki.
"We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour. We remain deeply concerned about the two members of our staff who remain in detention in Iran."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague demanded a strong response from EU countries.
"The prospect of a show trial of any British Embassy staff in Tehran is utterly unacceptable. We call again for their immediate release. This is a matter of principle and we should be able to expect a united response from other European countries."
Carl Bildt, the foreign minister of Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, will chair forthcoming talks with fellow EU foreign ministers on possible sanctions against Iran on July 27.
However, Mr Bildt is expected to call an earlier meeting if necessary to activate what the EU has promised will be a "strong and collective" response.
