Iranian Students Storm UK Embassy
Dozens of Iranian protesters stormed two British Embassy compounds in Tehran on Tuesday.
Protesters gathered outside the British compounds burning a British flag and chanting “Death to England” and “Death to Israel.”
Smaller groups of protesters eventually broke away from the crowds of hundreds and scaled embassy walls throwing rocks and looting offices.
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The protests began as a rally to demonstrate against new sanctions imposed by Britain following the release of an International Atomic Agency report that implicated Iran in building a bomb.
The protests were organized by the student wing of the Iranian paramilitary volunteer militia known as Basij.
The British foreign ministry has condemned the situation in Tehran calling it “utterly unacceptable” and said that the U.K. is “outraged.”
The ministry released a statement saying that under international law the Iranian authorities have a “clear duty to protect diplomats and Embassies in their country.”
“We expect them to act urgently to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of our staff and security of our property,” the ministry added.
Iran’s foreign ministry has expressed its regret over the situation saying that Tehran is committed to the safety of diplomats in its borders.
According to the semi-official Fars news agency, a number of protesters have been wounded and one of the wounded protesters is in critical condition.
The agency also reported that police had arrested “a large number of protesters.”
The U.K., the U.S., and Canada all recently moved to impose stricter sanctions on Iran due to beliefs that the country’s nuclear program is geared toward building a bomb.
Iran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear ambitions are for military purposes and has said that it will respond to any attacks on its nuclear program with “iron fists.”
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has condemned the accusations saying, “The one who levels the accusations must prove (their) claims. You must prove someone is guilty.”
