Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Iran quickly deteriorated this week after protesters stormed two British embassy compounds in Tehran. British Foreign Secretary William Hague accused the Iranian government of purposely not protecting the embassy.
"Iran is a country where opposition leaders are under house arrest, more than 500 people have been executed so far this year and where genuine protest is ruthlessly stamped on,” Hague said. "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."
Footage shows protesters smashing doors and windows to the compounds, burning British flags, looting the homes of diplomats and throwing petrol bombs inside the buildings. Iranian flags were raised in place of the British flags.
The incident has brought immediate consequences for Iran. In addition to removing their entire staff from the embassy in Tehran, British officials also ordered all Iranian diplomats to immediately vacate their embassy in London. They have 48 hours to leave the country.
"The Iranian charge in London is being informed now that we require the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London and that all Iranian diplomatic staff must leave the United Kingdom within the next 48 hours," Hague told the UK Parliament. "We have now closed the British embassy in Tehran. We have decided to evacuate all our staff and as of the last few minutes, the last of our UK-based staff have now left Iran."
British Prime Minister David Cameron promised “serious consequences” for Iran’s failure to protect the embassy. "The failure of the Iranian government to defend British staff and property was a disgrace," Cameron said. "The Iranian government must recognize that there will be serious consequences for failing to protect our staff. We will consider what these measures should be in the coming days."
Hague said diplomatic relations with Iran will not been completely severed; they will only be reduced “to the lowest level.”
The protest in Tehran was sparked by the U.K.’s decision to ban all business relationships and transactions with Iranian banks. The British first announced the sanctions last week, citing growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian Parliament responded to the sanctions by voting to expel the British ambassador from his post.
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