Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said the employees may face trial in connection with demonstrations against last month’s disputed presidential election.

“We have noted the remarks by Ayatollah Jannati suggesting that some of our local staff in Iran may face trial. We are urgently seeking clarification from the appropriate Iranian authorities,” Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

He added that he planned to speak to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki about the matter.

“We are confident that our staff have not engaged in any improper or illegal behaviour. We remain deeply concerned about the two members of our staff who remain in detention in Iran,” he said in a statement.