PM hails solidarity over Iran row

Jul 9 2009

Gordon Brown has hailed a "strong" show of solidarity from Barack Obama and other G8 leaders in Britain's row with Iran over a detained embassy employee.

The Prime Minister thanked leaders of the powerful nations after they issued a communique demanding that Tehran allow embassies to exercise their functions "without arbitrary restrictions on or intimidation of their staff".

The G8 - made up of Britain, the US, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia - also warned Iran that arrests of foreign nationals and journalists were "unacceptable" in the wake of the unrest which followed last month's disputed presidential elections.

The communique, agreed over dinner at the end of the first day of the summit in L'Aquila, said: "G8 countries continue to be seriously concerned about recent events in Iran. Interference with the media, unjustified detentions of journalists and recent arrests of foreign nationals are unacceptable.

"Embassies in Iran must be permitted to exercise their functions effectively under the Vienna Convention without arbitrary restrictions on or intimidation of their staff."

The document also voiced concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, which Tehran insists are limited to civil power, but are widely thought to be directed at developing a weapons capacity.

"We remain deeply concerned over proliferation risks posed by Iran's nuclear programme," said the communique. "We strongly urge Iran to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions without further delay."

Mr Brown said: "We pushed for a very strong statement on Iran and this is a strong statement from the whole of the G8. I am grateful for the solidarity of the other leaders."

The PM said that Britain stood ready to offer its support to France as it demanded the release of French teacher Clotilde Reiss who has been detained for a week in Iran in what Paris says are allegations of spying.

President Obama expressed his "solidarity" with the UK in talks with Mr Brown. Aides said both leaders were "clear that the detention of Embassy staff by the Iranian authorities was unacceptable".