Britain has ordered the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London in response to attacks on the British mission in Tehran, William Hague told the Commons today.
The British foreign secretary said the embassy in the Iranian capital had been closed and staff withdrawn following yesterday’s mob assaults on two compounds in the city.
In a statement to the Commons, he said it was “fanciful” to think that the attacks could have taken place “without some degree of regime consent”.
Announcing the downgrading of diplomatic links between the two nations to their lowest level without cutting ties completely, Mr Hague said the Iranian charge d’affaires had been told all staff must leave the UK in the next 48 hours.
“If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here,” he said.
The attacks on the two embassy compounds came at a time of increased tension between the UK and Iran over the Tehran regime’s nuclear programme.
Mr Hague told MPs that his move did not amount to the severing of diplomatic ties but was “action that reduces our relations with Iran to the lowest level consistent with the maintenance of diplomatic relations”.
He added: “It remains desirable for British representatives to be in contact with Iranian representatives, for instance as part of any negotiations about their nuclear programme or to discuss human rights.”
Mr Hague warned it would be a “serious mistake” for Iran to think intimidation of embassy staff would persuade the UK to back down from playing a leading role on the international stage.
“We wish to make absolutely clear to Iran and to any other nation that such action against our embassies and such a flagrant breach of international responsibilities is totally unacceptable to the United Kingdom.
“Later today and tomorrow I will attend the meeting of the EU foreign affairs council in Brussels when we will discuss these events and further action which needs to be taken in the light of Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme.
“As a permanent member of the UN security council and a leading member of the EU we are proud of the role our country plays in maintaining international peace and security and standing up for human rights all over the world.
“If the Iranian government thinks we will be diverted from these responsibilities by the intimidation of our embassy staff they will be making a serious mistake.”
PA