British embassy attack in Tehran follows history of bad blood and protest (Guardian)

– “Britain’s embassy in Tehran has often been the scene of drama in the tense and troubled relationship between the two countries, and yesterday’s attack by a furious, flag-burning crowd was a familiar experience, though no less unpleasant for those caught up in it.

The latest Anglo-Iranian crisis follows an old pattern: a highly undiplomatic protest at a moment of tension that is likely to be followed by a prolonged mutual sulk.

The architecture of the British embassy is an eloquent reminder of a contentious history. Its sprawling walled compound on Ferdowsi Avenue, in central Tehran, is typical of the grand mansions foreigners built when Victorian Britain was vying with tsarist Russia for influence in the dying days of the Qajar dynasty.”

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