11/30/11 As Britain Closes Embassies, Iran's Isolation Could Complicate Nuclear Issue (New York Times)

As Britain Closes Embassies, Iran's Isolation Could Complicate Nuclear Issue

By JOHN F. BURNS

Published: November 30, 2011

Iranian attack on British embassy.


Britain decided to close its embassy in Tehran and to expel all Iranian diplomats from London. Following the decision of Britain, Iran appeared to be more isolated, internationally. However, this withdrawal is seen to complicate efforts by Western governments to halt what they have identified as Iran's covert efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.


British Embassy has long been denounced by many Iranians, but its maintenance of has provided a useful bridge for diplomatic contacts on the nuclear issue.


Foreign Secretary William Hague said that diplomatic relations had not been ruptured altogether and showed the need for continuing contacts with Tehran on Iran's nuclear program.


Britain emphasized the broad international support it had received over the embassy attack. Britain is supported by Washington, Russia, China, etc.


European countries, such as France, as EU, are considering an embargo on Iran's oil or a freeze of its central bank holdings in Europe.


Some countries are withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran, such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Italy is still considering. Austria is against Iran, by saying that Iran had placed itself "outside the framework of international law."


The article ends with a surprising comment that Mr. Hague:

“Iran is a country where opposition leaders are under house arrest, more than 500 people have been executed so far this year, and where genuine protest is ruthlessly stamped on. The idea that the Iranian authorities could not have protected our embassy or that this could have taken place without some degree of regime consent is fanciful.”

11/29/11 Iranian Protesters Attack British Embassy (New York TImes)

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.