Iranian Protesters Attack British Embassy
By ROBERT F. WORTH and RICK GLADSTONE
Published: November 29, 2011
Iranian protesters attacked the British Embassy territory and a diplomatic residence in Tehran (which is a city in Iran). They tore down the British flag, smashed windows, defaced walls, and detained six staff members. What they are protesting against is Britain's tough new economic sanctions against Iran.
This action surprised even Iranian officials.
Analysts said,
Iran’s leaders, buffeted by the new sanctions, a collapsing economy and increasingly bitter infighting among the political elite, may have welcomed a chance to change the subject. But the episode also appeared to be a shot across the bow aimed at the West, in line with Tehran’s old policies of escalating defiance. (New York Times)
A statement was issued by the United Nations Security Council to call on Iran to protect foreign diplomats and embassy property.
Britain's new sanctions provoked special anger because
they require all contacts to be severed with the Iranian Central Bank, a step other countries, including the Unites States, have not taken. (New York Times)
The embassy attack happened the next day of when Iran's Parliament approved to expel the British ambassador and to downgrade diplomatic relations between Iran ant Britain, due to the Britain's new economic sanctions.
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