Iran Intends to Try British Embassy Employees

WorldJuly 2009 • Views: 2,403

The Iranian thugocracy is holding three British Embassy employees arrested last weekend during the election protests, and a senior cleric says they are going to be put on trial.

A senior Iranian cleric said today that several employees of the British Embassy in Tehran arrested in recent days would be put on trial for unspecified charges of acting against Iran’s national security, potentially escalating a confrontation with the West over last month’s disputed presidential election.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the conservative Guardian Council, said in a Friday prayer sermon that the employees, all of them Iranian nationals, “will definitely be tried” for taking part or promoting weeks of unrest surrounding the June 12 election, which was marred by opposition allegations of massive vote-rigging.

“The enemy made an effort to poison the people,” Jannati, who is politically close to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told worshipers gathered in Tehran. “They had planned a velvet revolution before the election … A number of people at the British Embassy were arrested for involvement in the unrests and they will definitely be tried.”

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64 comments

MandyManners Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:03:00am

What will NuLab do about it?

Racer X Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:03:37am

I read a report that they had video evidence against them. Not good.

redc1c4 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:04:18am

lovely people…… we should have them over for a party.

callahan23 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:04:47am

Let us see what kind of loyalty the British show their employees.

redc1c4 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:04:52am

re: #2 Racer X

I read a report that they had video evidence against them. Not good.

does the term “diplomatic immunity” ring any bells?

Racer X Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:04:58am

Note to foreign embassy staff in Iran:
Do not participate in political dissent rallies.

Nevergiveup Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:07am

EU nations summon Iran envoys due to UK embassy arrests

[Link: www.jpost.com…]

Summon them? kick them the fuck out!

Sharmuta Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:24am

0bama wants to extend niceties to these thugs in the hopes that they’ll come around- but all they’ve done since the election is prove to the world Iran’s regime is not interested in the opinion of the international community.

Brutus Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:25am

No one has pandered to the Muslim community in recent history more than the Brits. Not Obama, not the French… nobody!

And what does it get them?

soxfan4life Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:31am

re: #5 redc1c4

does the term “diplomatic immunity” ring any bells?

Well I wonder if we’re going to round up some of their diplomats and treat them with the same modicum of respect. I doubt it.

[deleted] Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:34am

doppelganglander Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:39am

re: #5 redc1c4

does the term “diplomatic immunity” ring any bells?

They are Iranians. I don’t know what the British could do other than apply diplomatic pressure, and that’s not going to happen.

Nevergiveup Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:06:43am

re: #5 redc1c4

does the term “diplomatic immunity” ring any bells?

They are Iranian citizens working for the Brits.

freedombilly Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:07:38am

Maybe the British government can simply talk to Iran, Messiah style, and settle their differences.

Racer X Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:07:58am

re: #5 redc1c4

does the term “diplomatic immunity” ring any bells?

I’m not defending the decision to put them on trial. I just think it was very unwise of them to participate in the political dissent.

Mr. E. Train Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:08:17am

You keep talking about unclenching fists.

I dont thing’ it means what you thing’ it means.

callahan23 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:08:52am

re: #12 doppelganglander

They are Iranians. I don’t know what the British could do other than apply diplomatic pressure, and that’s not going to happen.

Probably these Iranian nationals working for the Brits are going under the diplomatic bus.
So much for loyalty to ones employees.

[deleted] Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:09:33am

albusteve Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:10:10am

re: #17 callahan23

Probably these Iranian nationals working for the Brits are going under the diplomatic bus.
So much for loyalty to ones employees.

there is little to be done about…it’s a cruel world

looking closely Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:11:24am

There is this persistent myth of Western, and particularly British secret activities within Iran.

I think this is an expression of that…the Mullahs are, as usual, trying to divert attention from their own shortcomings.

What boggles the mind, is that Obama still wants to chat with these thugs.

DEZes Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:11:34am

The trials will last under an hour, the torture, not so much….

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:12:48am

I think it is time for 007 to meet the mullahs in person.
Lets use the Timothy Dalton one this time.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:13:04am

OT, note the LA Times’ wording:
“… the June 12 election, which was marred by opposition allegations of massive vote-rigging.”

/and they haven’t released the video tape either

rightymouse Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:13:38am

I thought that electing Obama would bring about world peace and Achmadinejad would prostrate himself before the “One”. No?

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:13:55am

re: #23 pre-Boomer Marine brat

It was also marred by the supreme leader counting millions of votes in 15 minutes..

Racer X Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:14:13am

re: #18 MikeySDCA

What reason is there to believe anything the mullahs say, especially the charges against these folks?

I believe they intend to harm them for participating - allegedly or not.

swamprat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:15:00am

They are not hostages.

No, not at all.

Send in the SEALs and end this farce.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:15:17am

re: #20 looking closely

Obama still wants to chat with these thugs

He has to, and will, unless he decides to try to develop an entirely new Middle East strategy.

kansas Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:15:17am

re: #24 rightymouse

I thought that electing Obama would bring about world peace and Achmadinejad would prostrate himself before the “One”. No?

Or this:
Image: obama_bow_1381505c.jpg

albusteve Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:16:07am

In 2006, the top ten countries that buy oil from Iran are Japan, China, India, South Korea, Italy, Turkey, France, South Africa, Taiwan and Greece.

somewhere in there is a solution to the Iranian madness…no money, no mullahs…too bad we don’t use our own oil

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:16:34am

re: #24 rightymouse
Zelaya, adinnerjacket, Chavez…Obama has tender feelings for them all…but dang the luck, they don’t seem to love him back.Let’s send WaPo and the NYTs reps for a tyrannical love fest

DEZes Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:16:44am

re: #24 rightymouse

I thought that electing Obama would bring about world peace and Achmadinejad would prostrate himself before the “One”. No?

To many people actually believed that.
These thugs live to hate, and they will take that hate to their graves.

kansas Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:16:53am

re: #30 albusteve

In 2006, the top ten countries that buy oil from Iran are Japan, China, India, South Korea, Italy, Turkey, France, South Africa, Taiwan and Greece.

somewhere in there is a solution to the Iranian madness…no money, no mullahs…too bad we don’t use our own oil

Somewhere a Sierra Club member has just fainted.

debutaunt Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:17:06am

re: #25 quiet man

It was also marred by the supreme leader counting millions of votes in 15 minutes..

The Super-Diebold-Express.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:17:25am

re: #25 quiet man

It was also marred by the supreme leader counting millions of votes in 15 minutes..

(Based upon zilch evidence) I suspect the regime had operatives busy filling out fake ballots all thru the night after the polls closed.

kansas Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:18:14am

re: #35 pre-Boomer Marine brat

(Based upon zilch evidence) I suspect the regime had operatives busy filling out fake ballots all thru the night after the polls closed.

You think they bothered to fake ballots when all they had to do was declare the winner?

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:18:58am

re: #35 pre-Boomer Marine brat
or special centrifuges like on the movie Real Genius

re: #34 debutaunt
Preloaded for maximum customer satisfaction

debutaunt Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:18:59am

re: #35 pre-Boomer Marine brat

(Based upon zilch evidence) I suspect the regime had operatives busy filling out fake ballots all thru the night after the polls closed.

The upgraded ‘comedian’ election tool.

SasquatchOnSteroids Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:19:35am

The Iranians will not forget this, as they won’t forget Neda.
That undercurrent will grow stronger.
That is my wish.
Cranes for Mullahs……in time.

rightymouse Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:19:52am

re: #29 kansas

Or this:
[Link: www.telegraph.co.uk…]

That photo still creeps me out.

Kronocide Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:20:04am

I hope Britain can wrangle them out.

What’s left to discuss about the evil regime of Iran? Only how hard to screw with them. I can’t believe anybody holds out hold for a rational discourse with them. The door should be shut on them financially and logistically until they relent on the nuclear plant issue. Or, we deal with them in another few years when they have weapons and they start doing Kim Il Jong impersonations.

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:20:15am

Can one do enny meanie miney BANG! in Iranian?

callahan23 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:20:42am

Yaihee, space thread here ——————————>

swamprat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:21:23am

We need to cut a deal with the russians. We trade with russia and they don’t trade with Iran. Maybe we can wean them away from dictators.

If we trade with russia, then NPR will like us.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:21:42am

re: #36 kansas

You think they bothered to fake ballots when all they had to do was declare the winner?

I think so. If they were utterly unconcerned with establishing a veneer of respectability, they wouldn’t have clamped down upon the foreign press.

That LA Times article mentioned lots of unfolded ballots, which apparently couldn’t have been inserted into the boxes.

Flavia Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:21:49am

Al Qaeda goes after France, Iran goes after Britain… It’ll be interesting to see how long before the world does a 180 & starts demanding we kick Iran’s ass.

Broomer Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:22:32am

Time to brush off the countdown clock showing “444 days”

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:24:27am

I think we need to realize that the Mullahs were knocked back and are grasping at straws…dinnerjacket ordered (yeah right!) an investigation into that girls shooting, The Supreme pretended to recount…

They are grasping at any straw they can to blue smoke the entire affair before students take over mullahcentral

rightymouse Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:24:35am

re: #31 quiet man

Zelaya, adinnerjacket, Chavez…Obama has tender feelings for them all…but dang the luck, they don’t seem to love him back.Let’s send WaPo and the NYTs reps for a tyrannical love fest

And I bet he thinks that if he just gave them more love, that one day they’ll see the light and love him back and stop murdering/torturing/starving their own citizens.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:25:45am

re: #38 debutaunt

The upgraded ‘comedian’ election tool.

Do you remember those old mimeo machines, with the purple (?) ink and big drums turned by a crank?

Can you visualize a bunch of mullahs furiously spinning the cranks, with gov’t lackeys hurrying in with armloads of reams of paper?

/don’t know about you, but I need a laugh right about now

quiet man Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:25:55am

re: #49 rightymouse

I cant take that bet..I am afraid that is the reality…stupid and myopic as it sounds. That is also the pretend basis of the anti war movement..

We love them until they kill us.

rightymouse Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:25:58am

re: #32 DEZes

To many people actually believed that.
These thugs live to hate, and they will take that hate to their graves.

Yep. Unfortunately, there will be mass graves in their wake.

Ojoe Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:27:20am

This is an ironclad reason to invade Iran, as we should have done during the “hostage crisis”.

MJ Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:47:04am

When Iran apologist Roger Cohen supports a tougher policy on Iran than does President Obama, you know you have a problem.

Wendya Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:51:50am

re: #2 Racer X

I read a report that they had video evidence against them. Not good.

If it’s as “professional” as their photoshop work, this should be amusing.

samsgran1948 Fri, Jul 3, 2009 11:55:19am

Remember the British response to the mullahs seizing British sailors in international waters? I don’t have much hope for those British Embassy employees.

zelnaga Fri, Jul 3, 2009 12:03:36pm

I’m reminded of the 2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel. To my knowledge, Iran hasn’t gone after the United States nearly as directly as they’ve gone after the United Kingdom. Sure, there are the Quds Forces, but they’ve been acting comparatively quite covertly.

Of course, then again, the US hasn’t maintained an embassy in Iran since 1980, so going after the US as they did the UK, in this instance, wouldn’t be nearly as easy for them.

bruxellesblog Fri, Jul 3, 2009 12:06:25pm

Iran tries two diplomats? Have the French surrendered yet?

J.S. Fri, Jul 3, 2009 12:48:04pm

BBC world “news” has reported that the Brits were asking the EU to have all EU ambassadors pulled out of Iran…(as a form of protest)…July 1, though, meant a change in the leadership of the EU — going from the Czechs to the Swedes…Thus, under new EU leadership, the EU told the Brits that a complete pull-out of all ambassadors was too aggressive — so, that won’t be done…Guess the EU stance will now be following Obama’s lead — more yak about “unclenching those fists!” etc. (Also, btw, the BBC interviewed some Brit whose “take” was that this is all the fault of G W Bush and his demonization of those poor widdle Iranians…)

Wishbone Fri, Jul 3, 2009 2:24:48pm

For those of you who seem to have no problem showing their contempt for any percieved British response to this situation, let me ask you a question:

What would your nation do?

…..Not ‘what you wish your nation would do’ or ‘what you fantasise your nation would do with a fucking big bomb for being so cheeky’………

But what your nation would actually do within the scope of it’s own diplomatic influence.

Let’s hear your answers. I’m curious.

Condor Fri, Jul 3, 2009 4:53:10pm

“But what your nation would actually do within the scope of it’s own diplomatic influence.

Let’s hear your answers. I’m curious.”

Iran is relatively easy to isolate and subject to a trade embargo. This needn’t be “deliberate”; an “accident” can close the Straits of Hormuz to, perhaps, only Iranian shipping. (So sorry, we’re working to clean it up as fast as we can…)

Iran has, AFAIK, only ONE petroleum refinery. If that refinery ceases to function, then Iran, no matter how much crude oil it has, will be unable to refine it to make gasoline (hence, all auto traffic, truck traffic, transport, buses, etc., come to a creaking halt, aside from what little can be imported—at heavy cost—to keep at least a few of the wheels rolling).

Iran’s geographical fringe is laced with minorities—all of whom have some dreams of separatism (or joining with their brothers in neighboring countries—i.e, the Kurds). They needn’t be backed as far as independence, but some support for their “non-cooperation” with Teheren should be rewarded.

There should also be a government in exile, broadcasting every day into the country. (Ayatollah Khoemeni found this to be very effective…)

And so on.

Flavia Fri, Jul 3, 2009 9:14:18pm

re: #61 Condor

There should also be a government in exile, broadcasting every day into the country. (Ayatollah Khoemeni found this to be very effective…)

I say get Reza Pahlevi! Not only would the irony be fitting, the British could claim to merely be doing what we always do in response to threats: “promoting our system of government (In the case of the UK, a constitutional monarchy, of course)”

Wishbone Sat, Jul 4, 2009 3:18:45am

re: #61 Condor

Not bad; But, if I may?…………….

On an ‘above board’ level, the pratts in the EU wouldn’t support such a move as a trade embargo. Look how the mention of pulling all EU diplomats from Iran in protest went down. They’re idiots; it’s a no-go. No one will buy the ‘accident in the straits’ story. Even if they did, the Iranians wouldn’t and it would still cause all sorts of trouble.

A quick Google suggests that Iran has nine refineries. While the loss of any one of them could do serious damage to their infrastructure, no one with half a brain cell will buy the ‘accident’ scenario there either. Whatever went down, you’d have to cripple a couple of them at least and again, the Iranians would cause bloody murder over it.

Your last two points I like better, though rather than encourage seperatism in the outlying states I’d like to see more support of the true reformists right in the heart of Tehran itself. What I’ve always found to be a crying shame is the huge demographic of young people there who want so much to have the things we take for granted and not get arrested, tortured, imprisoned or killed for it. During the latest protests, at the very least, every free government on the planet should have stood up and unequivocally stated that the mullahs and their puppets were absolutely bang out of order. Instead they squeaked, Tehran jeered back at them and we all shut up and sat down, right at the point where we should have responded with something along the lines of “One more peep from you sunshine and you’re going to find yourself the loneliest most isolated nation of the fucking planet”. What a bunch of pussies our governments are eh?

paybacktime Sat, Jul 4, 2009 11:43:50am

Maybe we can trade Worst President EVER jimmy carter to the islamofascist regime of iran for the British Embassy employees.

Then jimmy can finally do something good for the World.

Spy Mode Auto

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