UK to press Iran on embassy staff: Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.

UK officials will continue to lobby Iran for information about the chief political analyst from the British embassy in Tehran.

The Iranian man's lawyer has said his client is being held in prison accused of acting against national security.

But Foreign Secretary David Miliband has so far been unable to discuss the case with his Iranian counterpart.

Iran claims Britain is fomenting discontent to undermine Iran's Islamic regime - a charge the UK denies.

Political trial

Iranian news agencies have said all but one of nine embassy staff arrested last weekend have been released, although the UK government claims two remain in custody.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman could not confirm reports that the adviser had been charged, adding that the situation was "unclear and fluid".

Mr Miliband has said he is "deeply concerned" about the situation but a phone call he had planned to have with his Iranian counterpart did not take place.

The British are being backed by the European Union in a call for the immediate and unconditional release of both embassy employees still being held.

BBC world affairs correspondent Caroline Hawley says the hope is that collective pressure might help to prevent a political trial.

The lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi, claimed the man had been charged and would stand trial shortly.

'Confessions'

Mr Khorramshahi had not been able to meet his client in Evin prison where he is being held or see the text of the indictment, our correspondent said.

On Friday, Ahmad Jannati, leader of Iran's supreme legislative body the Guardian Council, said some members of the embassy staff would "inevitably" be put on trial and that they had made confessions.

Read Original Article:(Via BBC NEWS | Middle East.)