Britain withdraws embassy staff from Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Britain's Foreign Secretary says the U.K. has withdrawn its entire diplomatic staff from Iran following attacks on the country's embassy and a residential compound in Tehran.

William Hague told the House of Commons on Wednesday that Britain had also ordered all Iranian diplomats to leave the U.K.

Mobs hauled down British flags and ransacked offices in Tehran on Tuesday in retaliation for Britain's support of tighter sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.

Hague said Britain and allies would consider other measures in response at a European Union meeting Thursday.

He said it was "fanciful" to believe the attacks did not take place with support from Iran's regime.

Norway, meanwhile, closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns after Tuesday's assault.

"Ensuring the safety of our staff and their families is our immediate priority," said the statement. It noted some diplomatic work is ongoing, though the embassy is officially closed.

The Iranian government has expressed regret about "unacceptable behavior" of protesters, whose attacks began after anti-British demonstrations apparently authorized by authorities.

But Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that the "wrath of (students) resulted from several decades of domination-seeking behavior of Britain."

Larijani — addressing an open session of parliament Wednesday — also called the U.N. Security Council's condemnation of the embassy attack a "hasty move."

Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since militants stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held 52 hostages for 444 days. In the early moments of that siege, protesters tossed out papers from the compound and pulled down the U.S. flag.

Britain broke off relations with Iran after the Islamic Revolution and gradually restored them during the 1990s, AP reported.