Tehran’s British embassy was stormed by dozens of Iranian protesters Tuesday, prompting the British Foreign Office to call it “utterly acceptable.”
In what appeared to be an officially sanctioned protest designed to vent anger over Britain’s tough economic sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear energy program, protesters tore down the British flag, smashed windows and ransacked the embassy’s offices.
The attack, shown on Iranian television, was the most serious breach between Britain and Iran in more than 20 years, Agence France-Presse reported from Tehran.
The images were reminiscent of the infamous siege of the American Embassy following the Iranian revolution of 1979.
There were conflicting accounts of whether any hostages had been taken by the embassy assailants. The whereabouts of the embassy staff was unknown.
Britain’s Foreign Office, seemingly caught off guard by the assault, called it “utterly unacceptable,” AFP reports.
It said British officials had spoken to Iranian diplomats in London “to urge the Iranian authorities to act with utmost urgency to ensure the situation is brought under control and to protect our diplomatic compound, as they are obliged to do under international law.”
