Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (R) talks with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband during a European Union foreign ministers' on Iran issue in Corfu, Greece, on June 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Photo Gallery>>>

    CORFU, Greece, June 28 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers on Sunday condemned Iran's expulsion of two British diplomats and the arrest of Iranians working in the British embassy in Tehran.

    "The EU foreign ministers condemn the unjustified expulsion of two UK diplomats and the detention of several Iranian staff working at the British embassy in Tehran," said the ministers in a statement.

    The EU urged the Iranian authorities to provide protection for all working staff in EU embassies in Tehran and vowed "a strong and collective response" to harassment.

    The ministers "made clear to the Iranian authorities that harassment or intimidation of foreign and Iranian staff working in the EU embassies will be met with a strong and collective EU response," said the ministers.

    Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, refused to say what kind of response the EU will make.

    EU foreign ministers said they remain seriously concerned about the situation in Iran. They also condemned continued arrest and detention of peaceful demonstrators and journalists in Iran and the increasing restrictions on both domestic and foreign media.