Iran summons UK ambassador again over embassy incident in London

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador for a second time on Monday, voicing strong protest and condemnation over the desecration of the Iranian flag at Iran’s embassy in London, and denouncing what it described as the British government’s failure to fulfil its legal duty to protect diplomatic premises.

The move followed an incident during a protest outside the embassy in which hostile elements tore down the official Iranian flag and briefly raised a pre-1979 monarchist banner, an act Tehran considers a direct violation of diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention. British police later confirmed that arrests were made in connection with the disturbance, underscoring Iranian assertions that security around the embassy had been inadequate.

Apology Not Enough
During the meeting, the British ambassador apologized for the insult directed at the Iranian flag as a result of the attack, and said his government would take the necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Iranian officials, however, stressed that apologies alone are insufficient if concrete measures are not taken to safeguard diplomatic missions.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned that it would pursue appropriate responses should the United Kingdom again fail to meet its legal and international obligations toward Iranian diplomatic facilities.

The Foreign Ministry had already summoned the British ambassador a day earlier in protest over the same attack, reflecting Tehran’s view that the incident was not a minor protest-related breach but a serious affront to Iran’s sovereignty and diplomatic standing.

Diplomatic Obligations
In the same context, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his British counterpart, stressing that the United Kingdom is fully obligated to guarantee the safety and security of Iran’s embassy and consulate in London.

Araghchi also urged London to refrain from interference in Iran’s internal affairs, warning that tolerance for actions or rhetoric that embolden hostile groups targeting Iranian interests abroad is wearing thin.

‘Israel’, US fueling unrest in Iran
Iran has been witnessing armed riots and acts of sabotage that have infiltrated peaceful protests against the economic situation, resulting in the deaths of civilians and Iranian security personnel. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that armed sabotage infiltrated legitimate economic protests, leading to civilian and police casualties, and accused US-Israeli-linked networks of fueling the violence.

The Iranian authorities are pursuing the rioters and saboteurs, uncovering their links to terrorist organizations or separatist groups that serve the interests of Mossad and the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on January 12 that Iran is prepared to confront any aggression, stressing that the country’s defensive readiness is higher than ever. He made the remarks during a meeting with heads of diplomatic missions in Tehran.

He also recounted brutal incidents involving gunmen shooting wounded individuals inside ambulances and setting mosques on fire, adding that 53 mosques were burned, more than 10 ambulances and transport buses were attacked, and commercial shops were threatened with arson in the same wave of violence.

He added that Iran has video evidence allegedly showing weapons being handed to rioters and said authorities would soon release confessions from detainees along with documents and other proof aimed at demonstrating foreign involvement in the protests.

Iranians stand against rioters
On January 11, the Iranian government urged citizens to participate in “National Solidarity and Honoring Peace and Friendship” rallies planned for January 12.

In a statement, the government said that all cabinet members and state officials are “committed to hearing the words and criticisms of protesters and working to address their concerns,” emphasizing that dialogue remains a top priority.

The statement accused the United States and “Israel” of consistently seeking to incite unrest in the wake of what it called recent aggression against Iran, claiming they took advantage of the tense situation and deployed mercenaries to carry out sabotage in Iranian streets.

In response, massive, million-man protests spread across Iran on the morning of January 12, condemning the armed riots that struck the country and reaffirming popular support for the Islamic Republic.