Middle East News

Jul 3, 2009, 14:00 GMT

EU summons Iranian diplomats, Sarkozy meets Swedish prime minister

Stockholm/Brussels - European Union foreign ministries summoned Iranian ambassadors in their respective capitals Friday in a concerted diplomatic protest over the detention of British embassy staff in Tehran. The move was confirmed by diplomatic sources in Brussels and Berlin. In Finland, Finnish Under-Secretary of State Marjatta Rasi said the Iranian detentions were 'against all established diplomatic practices.' Rasi said the fact that the two detained British diplomats could face trial was seen as a provocation directed against the entire 27-member EU, not just Britain. Britain was singled out by Tehran for allegedly fuelling protests against the outcome of Iran's hotly contested presidential elections. The move came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Sweden for talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country assumed the rotating presidency of the EU on Wednesday. Sarkozy expressed support for tougher sanctions against Iran, but noted that it was 'up to Britain to tell us what they need.' Reinfeldt said there was no consensus on sanctions within the 27-member EU, and noted that popular protests in Iran should not be used as an excuse for 'a conflict between Iran and the rest of the world.'

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