BICOM

British ambassador to Iran, Dominic Chilcott, who took up the position just a month ago, could be forced to leave the country within weeks after a motion to downgrade Iran’s diplomatic ties with Britain was passed overwhelmingly by its parliament. The step was taken by Tehran after Britain, Canada and the US announced sanctions against Iran last week, following a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that provided the most compelling case yet that Tehran is trying to obtain a nuclear bomb.

The Islamic republic, however, singled out Britain, after it became the first country to impose sanctions against Iran’s central bank. British Financial institutions were also banned from conducting business with Iran. The Foreign Office was disquieted by the development, calling the decision made by Iran’s parliament “regrettable”. A spokesman added, “If the Iranian government acts in this, we will respond robustly in consultation with our international partners.”

In total, 171 out of 196 Iranian legislators voted in favour of the bill, which was broadcasted live on state television. The bill called for relations between Iran and the UK to be reduced to the level of charge d’affaires within two weeks. “The legislative branch is observing the behaviour of the British government and this is just the beginning of the road,” Iranian Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani said. The bill will now go to the Iranian Guardian Council, a panel of 12 clerics and jurists, which decides whether to accept legislation.

It is the first time in the UK’s post-war history that Britain has imposed a total boycott on the entire banking industry of a foreign state. However, in and of itself Britain’s decision to sanction Iran’s central bank will not be of great consequence – but there is fear in Tehran that other states, both within and outside the EU, could follow suit that combined would adversely impact Iran’s fragile economy.