UK orders Iranian embassy closed
One day after the British embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters, the UK is calling on Iran to close its embassy in London.
British foreign secretary, William Hague made the announcement at the House of Commons.
SOUNDBITE: British foreign secretary, William Hague saying:
"All Iranian diplomatic staff must leave the United Kingdom within 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. This does not amount to the severing of diplomatic relations in their entirety -- it is action that reduces our relations with Iran to the lowest level consistent with the maintenance of diplomatic relations."
Hague also blamed Iranian officials for the the embassy attack.
SOUNDBITE: British foreign secretary, William Hague saying: "Iran is a country where opposition leaders are under house arrest, where more than 500 people have been executed this year, and where genuine protest is ruthlessly stamped on. The idea that the Iranian authorities could not have protected our embassy, or that this assault could have taken place without some degree of regime consent is fanciful."
The British embassy in Tehran is now close and all staff have been evacuated.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
British foreign secretary, William Hague made the announcement at the House of Commons.
SOUNDBITE: British foreign secretary, William Hague saying:
"All Iranian diplomatic staff must leave the United Kingdom within 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. This does not amount to the severing of diplomatic relations in their entirety -- it is action that reduces our relations with Iran to the lowest level consistent with the maintenance of diplomatic relations."
Hague also blamed Iranian officials for the the embassy attack.
SOUNDBITE: British foreign secretary, William Hague saying: "Iran is a country where opposition leaders are under house arrest, where more than 500 people have been executed this year, and where genuine protest is ruthlessly stamped on. The idea that the Iranian authorities could not have protected our embassy, or that this assault could have taken place without some degree of regime consent is fanciful."
The British embassy in Tehran is now close and all staff have been evacuated.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.