Great Britain is gravely concerned about the prison term handed down by an Iranian court to a member of the British embassy staff in Tehran

Hossein Rassam, an Iranian worker at the embassy, was arrested in June during mass demonstrations against the outcome of Iran's presidential election. Eight other British embassy staff were also picked up, but Mr Rassam was the only one to face prosecution. He has been given a four-year sentence for inciting unrest.

The British government has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to explain the affair and is calling for the harsh sentence to be rescinded.

photo: election protests in Tehran (EPA)