European Union governments are warning Iran they could recall their ambassadors from the country if four British embassy officials still being detained by the Iranian regime are not released soon, writes James Blitz in London. Of the nine locally hired British embassy staff detained by Iran at the weekend, five were yesterday released. However, four were still under arrest last night.

The EU, which on Sunday strongly condemned Iran over the arrests, is determined to keep up the pressure on Tehran to release the remaining detainees, arguing their detention is unacceptable.