Menu
03/09/2003
British Embassy remains closed following shots fired into building
The Foreign Office has confirmed that the British Embassy in Tehran will remain closed for a time after shots were fired at the building from a nearby street today.
The incident occurred at around mid-day local time (7.30am) when at least five shots were fired into the building breaking windows.
No one was injured in the attack in which several of the bullets stuck the first and second floor windows of the embassy building.
It has not been ascertained who was responsible for the shooting which was unclaimed.
However, tension between Iran and Britain has been running high following the arrest on August 21 of Iranian diplomat, Hade Soleimanpour, who was detained in Britain in connection with the bombing of a Jewish building in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people. Mr Soleimanpour was the Iranian Ambassador to Argentina at the time of the bombing.
There have been calls in Iran for the British Ambassador to Iran, Richard Dalton, to be expelled as a protest against the arrest and it has emerged that the Iranian Ambassador to Britain, Morteza Sarmadi, has been recalled for what have been described as "consultations". It is not known if this is a sign of the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has called for the release of Mr Soleimanpour, but the British government have said that it is a purely judicial matter as the diplomat has been arrested on an extradition request from Argentine authorities.
(SP)
The incident occurred at around mid-day local time (7.30am) when at least five shots were fired into the building breaking windows.
No one was injured in the attack in which several of the bullets stuck the first and second floor windows of the embassy building.
It has not been ascertained who was responsible for the shooting which was unclaimed.
However, tension between Iran and Britain has been running high following the arrest on August 21 of Iranian diplomat, Hade Soleimanpour, who was detained in Britain in connection with the bombing of a Jewish building in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people. Mr Soleimanpour was the Iranian Ambassador to Argentina at the time of the bombing.
There have been calls in Iran for the British Ambassador to Iran, Richard Dalton, to be expelled as a protest against the arrest and it has emerged that the Iranian Ambassador to Britain, Morteza Sarmadi, has been recalled for what have been described as "consultations". It is not known if this is a sign of the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has called for the release of Mr Soleimanpour, but the British government have said that it is a purely judicial matter as the diplomat has been arrested on an extradition request from Argentine authorities.
(SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
05 September 2003
British embassy staff allowed to leave Iran
Non-essential personnel at the British embassy in Tehran are to be allowed to leave the country following a gun attack on the building earlier this week. However, the Foreign Office said that it did not consider that there was a threat to Britons living or working in Iran, and the announcement stopped short of advising British people to leave Iran.
British embassy staff allowed to leave Iran
Non-essential personnel at the British embassy in Tehran are to be allowed to leave the country following a gun attack on the building earlier this week. However, the Foreign Office said that it did not consider that there was a threat to Britons living or working in Iran, and the announcement stopped short of advising British people to leave Iran.
01 April 2003
Vehicle smashes into British Embassy in Iran
A vehicle which smashed into the British Embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran last night was not part of a terrorist attack, according to Iranian government sources. The driver of the vehicle was killed during the incident and there were no other injuries reported.
Vehicle smashes into British Embassy in Iran
A vehicle which smashed into the British Embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran last night was not part of a terrorist attack, according to Iranian government sources. The driver of the vehicle was killed during the incident and there were no other injuries reported.
29 November 2010
Wikileaks Highlight 'Criticism Of UK'
According to the Guardian, UK operations in Afghanistan have come under fire by US State Department files released by a whistle-blowing website. The latest data, published by the Wikileaks website, criticises David Cameron and inappropriate remarks by the Duke of York regarding a law enforcement agency and foreign country.
Wikileaks Highlight 'Criticism Of UK'
According to the Guardian, UK operations in Afghanistan have come under fire by US State Department files released by a whistle-blowing website. The latest data, published by the Wikileaks website, criticises David Cameron and inappropriate remarks by the Duke of York regarding a law enforcement agency and foreign country.
30 November 2011
British Diplomats Pulled Out Of Iran
Some of Britain’s diplomats will be pulled out of Iran following an attack on its embassy in the capital, Tehran, yesterday, reports the BBC. According to the report some staff will be leaving for their own safety but no numbers in regard to the amount leaving the country have been released.
British Diplomats Pulled Out Of Iran
Some of Britain’s diplomats will be pulled out of Iran following an attack on its embassy in the capital, Tehran, yesterday, reports the BBC. According to the report some staff will be leaving for their own safety but no numbers in regard to the amount leaving the country have been released.
17 October 2003
Iran promises 'accelerated' cooperation with nuclear inspectors
Iran has told the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it will "accelerate" its cooperation on nuclear issues. In a dispatch from its Vienna headquarters, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its Director-General, Mohamed ElBaradei, met in Tehran with Hassan Rohani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Iran promises 'accelerated' cooperation with nuclear inspectors
Iran has told the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it will "accelerate" its cooperation on nuclear issues. In a dispatch from its Vienna headquarters, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that its Director-General, Mohamed ElBaradei, met in Tehran with Hassan Rohani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
