Updated: Malta condemns attack on British Embassy in Teheran
The government said this morning it “deeply regrets” the Iranian Parliament’s vote to expel the UK Ambassador and yesterday's attack on the British embassy in Teheran. It hoped the Iranian government will not follow through on this decision. Efforts,...
The government said this morning it “deeply regrets” the Iranian Parliament’s vote to expel the UK Ambassador and yesterday's attack on the British embassy in Teheran.
It hoped the Iranian government will not follow through on this decision.
Efforts, the government said, should be focused instead on pursuing dialogue with the international community on issues of common concern.
The government also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” yesterday’s attack and ransacking of the UK Embassy in Teheran which it considered to be totally unacceptable.
Hard-line Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran yesterday , tearing down the Union Flag and throwing documents from windows in scenes reminiscent of the anger against Western powers after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The mob moved into the diplomatic compound two days after Iran's parliament approved a bill that reduces diplomatic relations with Britain following London's support of recently upgraded Western sanctions on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
Today, Britain was evacuating its diplomatic staff from Iran.
A first group of embassy employees was already at Tehran airport about to be flown to Dubai, one European diplomat told AFP. He and other diplomats said all the British embassy staff were leaving.
The British diplomats had spent the night in the security of various EU embassies, notably the French mission.
The evacuation was decided after Iranian protesters, some chanting "Death to Britain", overran Britain's two diplomatic compounds in Tehran for several hours Tuesday, tearing down the British flag and trashing embassy offices.
The incident sparked international condemnation, even from Russia, Iran's closest major ally.
Iran's foreign ministry expressed "regret" over the incident, but some Iranian officials were defiant, blaming the dramatic scenes on Britain's stance towards their country.
Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said the UN Security Council's condemnation was "hasty," state television reported.