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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Iran diplomats to leave UK after Tehran embassy attack | Iran diplomats to leave UK after Tehran embassy attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Diplomats working at the Iranian embassy in London must leave Britain by Friday afternoon. | Diplomats working at the Iranian embassy in London must leave Britain by Friday afternoon. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague ordered their expulsion within 48 hours on Wednesday afternoon after the British embassy in Tehran was stormed. They are expected to fly out this afternoon. | Foreign Secretary William Hague ordered their expulsion within 48 hours on Wednesday afternoon after the British embassy in Tehran was stormed. They are expected to fly out this afternoon. |
| About 120,000 people in the UK hail from Iran, as well as many students. | About 120,000 people in the UK hail from Iran, as well as many students. |
| The Iranian Association's Kaveh Kalantari said most UK-based Iranians "do not like what is going on in Iran". | |
| He said they were "worried". | He said they were "worried". |
| The diplomats are expected to leave the UK on a charter flight out of London later this afternoon, according to BBC Persian TV. | |
| Tuesday's attack by hundreds of protesters followed Britain's decision to impose further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. | Tuesday's attack by hundreds of protesters followed Britain's decision to impose further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told the BBC's Sarah Rainsford the UK's relationship with Iran had "taken a very serious knock". | |
| He said: "Something really bad happened when the Iranian authorities allowed those people to overrun our embassy compounds, and it is quite right that we have been very clear in our response - as have many other European countries who have withdrawn their ambassadors for consultations. | |
| 'Stooges' | 'Stooges' |
| "It doesn't mean we're cutting off all diplomatic relations with Iran. It doesn't mean we are in any way lessening our determination to try to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear question, which is immensely important to Europe and the whole world, and we will continue to work tirelessly to find a negotiated solution." | |
| As I write these words, Iran's flag continues to fly from the balcony of the embassy building. A single police officer stands at the front door. A police van with six police officers inside is parked outside, its engine running (presumably to keep the officers warm). | |
| A few doors down I watched two men load several dozen cardboard boxes into a removal van. One box appeared to contain a flatscreen TV. On another, the words London Council Affairs Visa Sectionn were scribbled in Farsi. | |
| Nearby at Iran's consulate a small number of visitors were allowed inside to collect visas and passports. But the staff did not accept any new applications. | Nearby at Iran's consulate a small number of visitors were allowed inside to collect visas and passports. But the staff did not accept any new applications. |
| Mr Kalantari said of Tuesday's attack by protesters: "I was really depressed when I heard that these stooges of the government had occupied the embassy." | |
| He told the BBC he believed the embassy occupation was part of a "power struggle" between different factions in Tehran but he added: "Iranians here in Britain are worried about the bad press we are getting." | He told the BBC he believed the embassy occupation was part of a "power struggle" between different factions in Tehran but he added: "Iranians here in Britain are worried about the bad press we are getting." |
| The sanctions led to Iran's parliament reducing diplomatic ties with the UK. | The sanctions led to Iran's parliament reducing diplomatic ties with the UK. |
| "If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil, they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here," Mr Hague told MPs on Wednesday. | "If any country makes it impossible for us to operate on their soil, they cannot expect to have a functioning embassy here," Mr Hague told MPs on Wednesday. |
| The foreign secretary said there had been "some degree of regime consent" in the attacks on the embassy and on another UK diplomatic compound in Tehran. | The foreign secretary said there had been "some degree of regime consent" in the attacks on the embassy and on another UK diplomatic compound in Tehran. |
| He also said all UK diplomatic staff in Tehran had been evacuated and the embassy closed. | He also said all UK diplomatic staff in Tehran had been evacuated and the embassy closed. |
| Mr Hague said relations between the UK and Iran were now at their lowest level, but the UK was not severing relations with Tehran entirely. | Mr Hague said relations between the UK and Iran were now at their lowest level, but the UK was not severing relations with Tehran entirely. |
| Iran's foreign ministry described the British move as "hasty" and said Iran would take "further appropriate action", Reuters news agency quoted state TV as saying. | |
| Germany, France and the Netherlands announced on Wednesday that they were recalling their ambassadors to Tehran for consultation, and Norway said it was temporarily closing its embassy there as a precaution. | |
| Hundreds of protesters - whom Iran described as "students" - massed outside the embassy compound on Tuesday afternoon before scaling the walls and the gates, burning British flags and a car. | Hundreds of protesters - whom Iran described as "students" - massed outside the embassy compound on Tuesday afternoon before scaling the walls and the gates, burning British flags and a car. |
| Another UK diplomatic compound in northern Tehran, known locally as Qolhak Garden, was also overrun and damaged. | Another UK diplomatic compound in northern Tehran, known locally as Qolhak Garden, was also overrun and damaged. |
| Iran said it regretted the incident, which it described as "unacceptable behaviour by a small number of protesters". | Iran said it regretted the incident, which it described as "unacceptable behaviour by a small number of protesters". |
| Mr Hague said the majority of those taking part had been members of a regime-backed Basij militia group. | Mr Hague said the majority of those taking part had been members of a regime-backed Basij militia group. |
| He said the private quarters of staff and the ambassador had been ransacked, the main embassy office set on fire and personal possessions belonging to UK diplomats stolen. | He said the private quarters of staff and the ambassador had been ransacked, the main embassy office set on fire and personal possessions belonging to UK diplomats stolen. |
| The US, EU and UN Security Council also condemned the attacks. | The US, EU and UN Security Council also condemned the attacks. |
| Last week, the US, Canada and the UK announced new sanctions against Iran, including measures to restrict the activities of the Iranian central bank. | Last week, the US, Canada and the UK announced new sanctions against Iran, including measures to restrict the activities of the Iranian central bank. |
| The UK said then it was severing all financial ties with Iran. | The UK said then it was severing all financial ties with Iran. |
| The move followed a report by the UN's nuclear watchdog that said Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear device". | |
| Iran denies the accusations, saying its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. | Iran denies the accusations, saying its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes. |
| On Sunday, Iran's parliament voted by a large majority to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UK in response to the recent action. | On Sunday, Iran's parliament voted by a large majority to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UK in response to the recent action. |