Iran Summons British Ambassador Amid Diplomatic Tensions Over Accusations

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the British ambassador over unfounded allegations of Iranian interference in UK affairs. Iran’s officials criticized Britain’s rhetoric, calling it biased and baseless, and urged a shift toward constructive diplomacy. The summoning follows UK security measures aimed at tightening scrutiny on Iran, amidst a backdrop of historical tensions between the two nations.

TEHRAN – The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the British ambassador to Tehran in response to repeated, unfounded accusations made by British officials regarding Iran’s alleged interference in the UK’s internal affairs. Ambassador Hugo Shorter was called in by Alireza Yousefi, Assistant to the Foreign Minister, who articulated Iran’s strong objection to these claims.

During the meeting, Yousefi condemned the UK’s “biased and baseless allegations” against Iran, highlighting that such rhetoric contravenes established norms of international law and diplomatic protocol. He warned that these accusations would further erode Iranian trust in British policies, particularly in the broader West Asian context.

Yousefi also urged the UK government to reassess its “unconstructive approach” and advocated for more responsible and balanced diplomacy. In response, Ambassador Shorter indicated that he would communicate Iran’s concerns to the UK government.

This diplomatic action follows Iran’s resistance to recent UK security measures targeting Tehran over purported hostile activities within the UK. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei criticized Britain’s stance, accusing it of hypocrisy in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Baqaei stated, “It is absurd to blame Iran for something you excel in and master: illegal interference in other nations’ internal affairs!” He noted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to characterize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide, and criticized Britain’s historical involvement in the 1953 coup that ousted Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.

Baqaei further contended that the UK is intensifying its irrational hostility toward Iranians to divert attention from its own culpability, expressing that, “This is no longer the 19th century. Any government that makes unfounded accusations and takes hostile actions against the Iranian nation shall be held accountable.” The current diplomatic strains come amid UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis’s announcement to Parliament regarding enhanced scrutiny on Iran’s government and security apparatus under a new foreign influence registration scheme.

Tehran argues that these accusations are politically motivated, reflecting Britain’s longstanding history of interference in Iranian matters. Tensions between the two nations are deeply rooted in a troubled past, with many Iranians attributing the Great Famine and Genocide of 1917–1919, which caused the death of millions, to British actions during World War I while Iran was occupied.

In conclusion, the summoning of the British ambassador by Iran underscores the escalating diplomatic tensions stemming from accusations of interference in UK affairs. Iranian officials have strongly denied these claims, emphasizing a historical context of British actions perceived as hostile. This situation reflects broader issues of accountability and international relations, highlighting the complexities within Iran-UK interactions.

Original Source: www.tehrantimes.com