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July 1, 2009 18:50 ET

EU seeks unity on response to Iran

European Union governments are considering how best to show unity behind Britain's protest of the detention of embassy staff in Tehran without provoking the Iranian regime.

Diplomats are currently discussing the possibility of withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran, but no collective decision has been reached.

Sweden took over the EU presidency today, and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said the bloc must balance the importance of having a unified response from the 27 member states while avoiding making "an excuse for the use of violence or the use of repression inside Iran."

Reinfeldt dismissed as "completely unfounded" Tehran's accusations that at least one U.K. embassy employee had helped to instigate post-election riots.

Reinfeldt said that while he didn't want to polarize Iran, whether that happens was really up to Tehran. "We hope the Iranian leadership will make the right choice and introduce reforms rather than create conflicts between Iran and the outside world,” Reinfeldt said, refusing to speculate on the likelihood of the ambassador recall.

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Saam, July 2, 2009 12:18 ET

PLEASE PLEASE PLAEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES COMING OUT OF IRAN AND WITHDRAW YOUR EMBASSADORS. THEY MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN NOT HOLD ALL OF US TO RANSOM. US AT GUN POINT AND YOU WITH EMPTY ACCUSATIONS.
We took to the streets in our millions to let the world know that the people of Iran could not be further in belief from those represented by the ruling powers who have taken over our country. We got beaten, shot, knifed and bladed. Most of us came back. Some of us did not. They made us pay to get their bodies back and denied us the permission to hold burial ceremonies for them. They took thousands of us as prisoners in the streets. They identified hundreds more through their spies and spy cameras. Some were taken from their beds at night and some from their universities, breaking doors down and destroying everything in their way. These innocent prisoners are being tortured in the most brutal way RIGHT NOW to confess to having been a spy for any country they choose to blame. Most would rather die under torture than confess to such lies. Some will probably be too weak to have a choice and will read out whatever they get given.
The regime occupying Iran is the master at putting other countries on the defensive by accusing them of such rubbish.

ARE YOU GOING TO SIT AND WATCH ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL REGIMES IN THE WORLD OPPRESS ITS PEOPLE AND ACCUSE YOU IN THIS WAY? CAN WE PRETEND THESE ATROSITIES ARE NOT HAPPENING?
PLEASE PLEASE PLAEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES COMING OUT OF IRAN AND WITHDRAW YOUR EMBASSADORS. THEY MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS.

Regards,
A proud Iranian who can not be further from what Ahmadinejad and Khamenei stand for