EU summons Iranian envoys over UK embassy detentions

By David Brunnstrom

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries summoned Iranian ambassadors on Friday to protest against the detention of Iranian staff of the British embassy in Tehran and warned of tougher steps next week if they are not freed.

EU foreign ministers last week urged Iran to release swiftly the Iranian employees of Britain's Tehran embassy and a Greek journalist detained as alleged instigators of street protests over disputed presidential election results.

They warned of a "strong and collective response" against intimidation of diplomatic staff.

At a meeting in Brussels on Friday the 27 EU states agreed to take a gradual approach towards Tehran that could in future include visa bans and withdrawal of EU ambassadors from Iran, depending on how the situation evolved, an EU official said.

"It is clear we need to show solidarity, that we are unified," Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country holds the EU presidency, told a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Sarkozy said EU states would do all they could to back Britain. "France has always wanted to strengthen the sanctions so that the Iranian leaders really understand that the path they have chosen will be a dead end," he said.

"Now it is up to the British to tell us what they need."