The Iranian ambassador in London will be asked to go to the Foreign Office to negotiate a humanitarian visit to two borough-based refugees languishing in an Iranian jail.

But the Government has indicated it is concerned that Ebrahim Khodabandeh, from Barnet, and Jamil Bassam, from Hendon, would suffer' in prison in Iran if it did too much to help them, according to Hendon MP Andrew Dismore.

The men, who have lived in the borough for more than 30 years, were arrested during a trip to Syria last April and were transferred to Iran. Baroness Nicholson, who visited the men in prison, said they were likely to be charged with carrying US$1million dollars to finance what the Iranian authorities regard as terrorist groups.

Mr Dismore has met with Baroness Symons, the minister responsible for Middle East issues, to discuss their case. "Baroness Symons said she would now ask the Iranian ambassador to come to the Foreign Office to receive the British Government's representations with reference to a human rights organisation such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees having access to them. She said she was worried the Barnet Two' would suffer if the Government gets too active," he said.

For Elaheh Azimfar, the wife of Mr Khodabandeh, this does not make sense.

"The experience over the last 12 months has shown that keeping quiet and doing nothing will not help my husband in any way. If the Foreign Office gets active, the Iranian authorities will get the message and realise they must respond," she said.

Mr Dismore added that the Foreign Office had also sought answers from Syria about why it had sent the men back to Iran the country they had sought refuge from against international law.