Unknown assailants fired gunshots at the British Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday and the embassy temporarily closed the building for business.
Staff at the British embassy in Tehran said up to six shots were fired, adding that it was not clear who fired them.
Bullets hit windows in the building which stands near the perimeter wall next to a busy Tehran street, the embassy said. No one was injured.
FM SPOKESMAN CONDEMNS INCIDENT
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi condemned the attack, calling it an “irresponsible act.”
Assefi said the police are investigating the incident and added that security has been beefed up around the embassy.
"Nobody was injured but the embassy has been temporarily closed for business," the British Foreign Office spokesman said.
He added that Britain will announce its stance on the issue after the current talks with the Iranian Foreign Ministry are over.
The incident occurred at a time of rising tension between Iran and Britain over Britain's arrest of the former Iranian ambassador to Argentina, who has been detained by British police in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina.
Iran's ambassador to London returned to Tehran for consultations following the row over the arrest of former diplomat Hadi Soleimanpour in connection with the Buenos Aires bombing which killed 85 people, Iranian and British officials said on Wednesday.
Iran has denied any involvement in the case.
On the diplomatic front, Britain said it understood the recall of Iran's London envoy, Morteza Sarmadi, did not mean a downgrading in relations.
Soleimanpour, who was Iran's ambassador to Argentina at the time of the 1994 bombing, has said that he is innocent.
Iran believes that Soleimnanpour’s detention is politically motivated and has promised "strong action," warning Britain that the issue would harm bilateral ties.
SM/HG
End
MNA
Your Comment