The Fars News Agency said the eight people have been accused of playing a considerable role in the riots.
Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei told reporters on Sunday that there are films and pictures proving that some of these embassy staff members were among the rioters.
He said the British embassy played an important role in sparking the recent riots both through its local staff and the media, IRNA reported.
The embassy sent certain local employees to incite rioters, the minister added.
He said some of the arrested people were released after the preliminary investigations but the rest were detained for further investigation.
The security officials on Sunday arrested eight local staff members of the British embassy for allegedly playing a significant role in the country's post-election unrest.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said London had protested strongly to Tehran over the arrests. He described the arrests as “harassment and intimidation of a kind which is quite unacceptable.”
He said the release of the staff was Britain’s “top priority” and dismissed claims the embassy was behind the demonstrations as “wholly without foundation”, AFP reported.
AA/PA
END
MNA
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