Escalation

Iran to Try Embassy Workers

Move sets collision course with EU.

Further hiking tensions with Europe, Iran is getting set to put on trial the local British embassy employees in Tehran it arrested last weekend. Iran has alleged that the workers were part of a conspiracy with Britain to destabilize the country by encouraging opposition protests, but the British have denied the charges and demanded the release of the prisoners. Now the head of Iran's Guardian Council, Ahmed Jannati, says the country will take some of these staff to court. "In these incidents, their embassy had a presence, some people were arrested. Naturally they will be put on trial, they have made confessions," Jannati said at Friday prayers, according to news reports. The EU is looking at withdrawing its ambassadors to Iran in protest.