Britain and Iran order diplomatic expulsions after attack

Nov 30, 2011, 18:33 GMT

London/Tehran - Britain closed its embassy in Tehran on Wednesday and ordered the expulsion of Iranian diplomats from London, in a move that prompted a tit-for-tat response from Iran.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the decision was in response to the storming of Britain's embassy, and a second complex, by radical protestors in Tehran on Tuesday.

Speaking in the British parliament Wednesday, Hague said it was 'fanciful' to believe that the attacks in Tehran could have taken place 'without some degree of regime consent.'

Tehran later deplored the British move and said it was investigating Tuesday's events.

'The decision was hasty because what happened in Tehran was unpredictable and made by some angry protesters,' said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.

'We are committed to our international obligations and the judiciary has already started investigations and will confront the intruders through legal channels,' the spokesman added.

Mehr news agency further quoted the spokesman as saying that Iran was now naturally forced to reciprocate the British action by closing down the British embassy and expelling all diplomats as well.

Following Hague's announcement, Fars news agency reported that all British diplomats had been told to leave the country 'within the next hours.'

However, Britain had already said earlier that it was pulling out its embassy staff from Tehran.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian lawmaker warned Wednesday that Britain would have to face the consequences of its actions.

'The decision to close down the Iranian embassy in London and expelling all diplomats was made by the British regime and London will therefore be held responsible for all legal and diplomatic consequences of this decision,' Alaeddin Boroujerdi said.

'As far as the Iranian public opinion is concerned, it is definitely happy that there will be no British ambassador and diplomats any more left in Iran,' the head of the parliamentary foreign policy commission told Fars.

In London, Hague accused Tehran of having committed a 'grave violation' of the Vienna Convention by failing to protect British diplomats.

'If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here,' he said.

Hague stressed that the decision to close the embassy did 'not amount to the severing of diplomatic relations in their entirety.' Ties were reduced to the 'lowest level consistent with the maintenance of diplomatic relations.'

The minister said that, while Iran's relations with Britain and other western nations were 'difficult,' there was 'no excuse' for the 'grave violation' of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

'It is true that relations between Britain and Iran are difficult, as they are to varying degrees between Iran and many other nations. We publicly differ with Iran over its nuclear programme, and on human rights, and we make no secret of our views,' said Hague.

Britain had been foremost among nations arguing for peaceful legitimate pressure to be intensified on Iran in the light of 'deep and increasing concern' about the Iranian nuclear programme, including its 'possible military dimensions.'

'But we should be absolutely clear that no difficulty in relations can ever excuse in any way or under any circumstances the failure to protect diplomatic staff and diplomatic premises,' he said.

Germany and France also recalled their ambassadors from Iran Wednesday.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in a statement that the ambassador, Bruno Foucher, had been recalled over Iran's 'flagrant and unacceptable' violation of the Vienna Convention.

The ministry had also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in Paris to 'reiterate France's condemnation' of Tuesday's attack and remind Iran of its responsibilities to protect foreign missions.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and other European Union foreign ministers would discuss the consequences of Iran's 'irresponsible' behaviour at a meeting in Brussels Thursday, the Paris ministry added.

Hague thanked the United Nations, the United States and many other countries for the support they had shown Britain over the incident. Turkey had been especially helpful, said Hague, while also singling out France for its 'robust support.'

A group of Iranian students on Tuesday stormed the British embassy in Tehran, tearing up documents and pictures of Queen Elizabeth II, in the latest instalment of a brewing diplomatic row between the two countries.

Another group of students entered the residential compound of British embassy diplomats and staff in north Tehran, where some foreign schools are also located.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry distanced itself from the incident, saying it was a spontaneous act by students and not approved by the administration.

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