BICOM

Prime Minister David Cameron has warned Iran of “serious consequences” after hard-line students stormed the British embassy and a UK compound in Tehran. The protesters smashed windows, torched a car and threw documents out from the windows. Protesters also reportedly set fire to the British Flag as they chanted “Down with Britain”, “Down with America” and “Down with Israel”. During the embassy raid there were conflicting reports whether local embassy staff members were held hostage, in a statement afterwards, however, Foreign Secretary William Hague clarified that all staff and their dependents were accounted for.

In response to the attack, Prime Minister David Cameron called the event “outrageous and indefensible”. “The failure of the Iranian government to defend British staff and property was a disgrace,” Cameron said. He added that the UK holds the Iranian Government responsible for not protecting the embassy in line with international law. “The Iranian Government must recognise that there will be serious consequences for failing to protect our staff. We will consider what these measures should be in the coming days,” Cameron concluded. 

Foreign Secretary William Hague added that the UK takes the irresponsible action of storming the embassy “extremely seriously”. “I spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister this afternoon, to protest in the strongest terms about these events and to demand immediate steps to ensure the safety of our staff and of both Embassy compounds,” Hague said.

Other states in the international community were quick to condemn the embassy storming. US President Barack Obama said he was “deeply disturbed” by the attack. “That kind of behaviour is not acceptable, and I strongly urge the Iranian government to hold those who are responsible to task,” he said. Germany, France and the European Union also condemned the attack.

Iran’s parliament on Sunday voted to reduce diplomatic relations with the UK following London’s support for increased sanctions on Iran. Relations between the West and Iran have been deteriorating in recent months, amid fears that Iran is seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.