Iran on Sunday released the eighth of nine detained UK embassy staff at the centre of a diplomatic row between Tehran and London while a lawyer for the final detainee said he had been told to expect “positive developments”.

The moves came as Iranian authorities also released a Greek journalist covering Iran’s disputed presidential election for an American newspaper. The semi-official Fars news agency reported on June 23 that Iason Athanasiadis was arrested in Tehran on charges of ”illegal activities. Iranian authorities had said he exceeded the duration of his visa to stay in Iran.