2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran
Encyclopedia
The 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran occurred on 29 November 2011 in Tehran
, Iran
. Iranians, allegedly Basiji
university students, stormed the embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran, ransacking offices and stealing documents. One small building is reported to have been set on fire during the incident. Several people were injured, but there are no reports of any deaths.
has been imposing numerous sanctions on Iran
regarding concerns with the nature of its nuclear programme
. Following a report drafted by International Atomic Energy Agency
in November 2011, the British government banned all financial institutions in the United Kingdom doing business with their counterparts in Iran, including Iran's central bank. Iran responded by approving a bill to downgrade its ties with the United Kingdom, including a requirement for both countries to withdraw their ambassadors from each other to reduce the level of diplomatic relations.
", "Down with the UK," "Down with the US," and "Down with Israel
."
Then Iran's state-run Press TV
reported that police had the incident under control, but Britain's Foreign Office called the situation "fluid" and said "details are still emerging". The Saudi newspaper Al Arabiya
alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the Iranian authorities, including the Basij
and members of the Quds Force.
British Prime Minister David Cameron
described the incursion as "outrageous and indefensible" and demanded that Iran immediately ensure the safety of all British Embassy personnel. Foreign Secretary William Hague
said the "irresponsible action" had put the safety of diplomats and their families at risk and caused extensive damage to embassy property. Some anti-UK students had gathered at the front of Gholhak Garden on the north of Tehran. They also pulled down a picture of the Queen and burned an embassy vehicle, as well as US, Israeli and UK flags. The protesters said they wanted to shut down the embassy. Protesters also targeted Gholhak Garden
, a British diplomatic compound in north Tehran that has been a source of contention between Iranian and UK officials over its ownership. Both of the protests have now ended. Iran expressed regret over the attacks and police arrested 12 protesters.
of 1961, as well as customary international law. Specifically, Article 22(1) of that convention provides that "the premises of the mission" (i.e, embassy buildings) shall be inviolable, except with the consent of the head of the mission. Also, Article 22(2) provides that the receiving State, in this instance Iran, is under a special duty to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the mission from intrusion and damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or prevent any impairment of its dignity.
expressed regret over the attack, calling it "unacceptable" and said that it happened "despite the efforts made by the Iranian Law Enforcement Police and reinforcement of the embassy guards." Iranian police have arrested 12 protesters in connection with the attack.
Ali Akbar Salehi
, Iran's foreign minister phoned Iranian Charge d'Affaires in London
, Safar Koupaei to ensure Iranian diplomats in London have a safe and smooth return to their homeland on 1 December 2011.
issued a statement saying that "we are outraged by this. It is utterly unacceptable and we condemn it." Later that evening British Prime Minister David Cameron
described the Iranian Government's failure to protect the embassy as a "disgrace". On the 30 November 2011, during a speech to the House of Commons, Foreign Secretary William Hague
announced that the Iranian Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
, his ambassadorial staff and other Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave the United Kingdom
. The foreign secretary also announced that he had closed the British Embassy, and its staff and dependents had left Tehran. This brought the United Kingdom's relations with Iran to their lowest level, and both the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister had warned of far more "serious consequences" towards Iran, for its failure to uphold its international obligations in line with the Vienna Convention
.
The United Nations Security Council
condemned the attacks "in the strongest terms" and United States
Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton
described them as an "affront" to the international community.
Russia
condemned the attack, stating that the actions were "unacceptable and deserve condemnation." China
refused to criticise Iran by name but stated that "the relevant action runs counter to international law and basic norms of international relations and should be handled appropriately."
Several countries, such as France
, Germany
, Italy
and the Netherlands
, recalled their ambassador
s to discuss the diplomatic matter, with Austria
stating they are considering a similar decision. While not recalling its own ambassador, Sweden
summonsed the Iranian Ambassador to the Swedish Foreign Ministry in protest. Germany offered to act as a protecting power
for the United Kingdom's diplomatic duties in Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania
expressed concern about the incident, describing it as a "flagrant violation of the law and international conventions". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania strongly condemned the incident and called on the Government of Iran to undertake immediate measures to respect the obligations under international law and to ensure the normal functioning of diplomatic representation of the United Kingdom in Tehran. Albania
is the first country of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that condemned the incident.
The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on 180 Iranian officials and companies, EU diplomats say. The sanctions were announced after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The EU has yet to release details about the 180 officials and entities which will be targeted by the sanctions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Kosovo
, Enver Hoxhaj
in the name of the Government
has condemned the attack on the UK Embassy in the capital of Iran, Tehran.
In this case, Hoxhaj stressed that such acts are unacceptable and contrary to international laws and practices regulating the relations between states. Hoxhaj Wednesday sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom
, William Hague
, expressing support of the people and the Government of the United Kingdom
. The letter states that "The Government of Kosovo
joins the democratic Government, calling the Government of Iran to respect international obligations, in order to ensure the normal functioning of diplomatic representation of UK in Tehran
".
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Iranians, allegedly Basiji
Basij
The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
university students, stormed the embassy and another diplomatic compound in Tehran, ransacking offices and stealing documents. One small building is reported to have been set on fire during the incident. Several people were injured, but there are no reports of any deaths.
Background
The government of United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
has been imposing numerous sanctions on Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
regarding concerns with the nature of its nuclear programme
Nuclear program of Iran
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program. The support, encouragement and participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
. Following a report drafted by International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
in November 2011, the British government banned all financial institutions in the United Kingdom doing business with their counterparts in Iran, including Iran's central bank. Iran responded by approving a bill to downgrade its ties with the United Kingdom, including a requirement for both countries to withdraw their ambassadors from each other to reduce the level of diplomatic relations.
Incursion
The incursion happened after about 1,000 people gathered near the embassy to demand that the British ambassador be sent home immediately. The rally began quietly, but some participants then stormed the building, breaking down the door, throwing around papers and replacing the British flag with an Iranian one. The Iranian security forces initially did not intervene as protesters entered the British Embassy. Protesters removed the mission's flag and ransacked offices. The students chanted "Allahu AkbarTakbir
The Takbīr or Tekbir is the Arabic term for the phrase ' . It is usually translated "God is [the] Greatest," or "God is Great". It is a common Islamic Arabic expression...
", "Down with the UK," "Down with the US," and "Down with Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
."
Then Iran's state-run Press TV
Press TV
Press TV is a 24-hour English language global news network owned by the Iranian government. Its headquarters are located in Tehran, Iran, with bureaux in Beirut , Damascus , London , Seoul and Washington DC ....
reported that police had the incident under control, but Britain's Foreign Office called the situation "fluid" and said "details are still emerging". The Saudi newspaper Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya
Al Arabiya is a Pan-Arabist Saudi-owned Arabic-language television news channel. Launched on March 3, 2003, the channel is based in Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates, and is majority-owned by the Saudi broadcaster Middle East Broadcasting Center ....
alleged that the attack was orchestrated by the Iranian authorities, including the Basij
Basij
The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia established in 1979 by order of the Islamic Revolution's leader Ayatollah Khomeini. The force consists of young Iranians who have volunteered, often in exchange for official benefits...
and members of the Quds Force.
British Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
described the incursion as "outrageous and indefensible" and demanded that Iran immediately ensure the safety of all British Embassy personnel. Foreign Secretary William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
said the "irresponsible action" had put the safety of diplomats and their families at risk and caused extensive damage to embassy property. Some anti-UK students had gathered at the front of Gholhak Garden on the north of Tehran. They also pulled down a picture of the Queen and burned an embassy vehicle, as well as US, Israeli and UK flags. The protesters said they wanted to shut down the embassy. Protesters also targeted Gholhak Garden
Gholhak Garden
Gholhak Garden is a British diplomatic compound in the northern Tehran neighborhood of Gholhak in Iran. The sprawling tree-lined site, bordered by high walls, measures 200,000-square-metre and houses British diplomats and their families. The compound is also home to the Tehran War Cemetery...
, a British diplomatic compound in north Tehran that has been a source of contention between Iranian and UK officials over its ownership. Both of the protests have now ended. Iran expressed regret over the attacks and police arrested 12 protesters.
Protections of the Vienna Convention
The conventions which regulate diplomacy between states are largely codified in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic RelationsVienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or...
of 1961, as well as customary international law. Specifically, Article 22(1) of that convention provides that "the premises of the mission" (i.e, embassy buildings) shall be inviolable, except with the consent of the head of the mission. Also, Article 22(2) provides that the receiving State, in this instance Iran, is under a special duty to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the mission from intrusion and damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or prevent any impairment of its dignity.
Within Iran
Iran's Foreign MinistryMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an Iranian government ministry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Cabinet member in charge....
expressed regret over the attack, calling it "unacceptable" and said that it happened "despite the efforts made by the Iranian Law Enforcement Police and reinforcement of the embassy guards." Iranian police have arrested 12 protesters in connection with the attack.
Ali Akbar Salehi
Ali Akbar Salehi
Ali Akbar Salehi is an Iranian politician, diplomat and academic and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs since 13 December 2010. Previous to his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran from 16 July 2009 to 13 December 2010...
, Iran's foreign minister phoned Iranian Charge d'Affaires in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Safar Koupaei to ensure Iranian diplomats in London have a safe and smooth return to their homeland on 1 December 2011.
Within the United Kingdom
Following the incident, the Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
issued a statement saying that "we are outraged by this. It is utterly unacceptable and we condemn it." Later that evening British Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
described the Iranian Government's failure to protect the embassy as a "disgrace". On the 30 November 2011, during a speech to the House of Commons, Foreign Secretary William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
announced that the Iranian Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
, his ambassadorial staff and other Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The foreign secretary also announced that he had closed the British Embassy, and its staff and dependents had left Tehran. This brought the United Kingdom's relations with Iran to their lowest level, and both the Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister had warned of far more "serious consequences" towards Iran, for its failure to uphold its international obligations in line with the Vienna Convention
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or...
.
International
Norway announced it closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns, after Britain's mission was stormed. Hilde Steinfeld, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman in Oslo, said the decision to close the embassy was taken late Tuesday, but that Norway's diplomatic staff have not been evacuated from the country. "They're still in Tehran," she said.The United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
condemned the attacks "in the strongest terms" and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
described them as an "affront" to the international community.
Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
condemned the attack, stating that the actions were "unacceptable and deserve condemnation." China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
refused to criticise Iran by name but stated that "the relevant action runs counter to international law and basic norms of international relations and should be handled appropriately."
Several countries, such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, recalled their ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s to discuss the diplomatic matter, with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
stating they are considering a similar decision. While not recalling its own ambassador, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
summonsed the Iranian Ambassador to the Swedish Foreign Ministry in protest. Germany offered to act as a protecting power
Protecting power
A protecting power is a state which somehow protects another state, and/or represents the interests of the protected state's citizens in a third state....
for the United Kingdom's diplomatic duties in Iran.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Albania)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry in the Government of Albania which is in charge of foreign relations and admission of Albania into the European Union and NATO. The current minister is Edmond Haxhinasto, who replaced Ilir Meta due to a corruption scandal....
expressed concern about the incident, describing it as a "flagrant violation of the law and international conventions". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania strongly condemned the incident and called on the Government of Iran to undertake immediate measures to respect the obligations under international law and to ensure the normal functioning of diplomatic representation of the United Kingdom in Tehran. Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
is the first country of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that condemned the incident.
The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on 180 Iranian officials and companies, EU diplomats say. The sanctions were announced after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. The EU has yet to release details about the 180 officials and entities which will be targeted by the sanctions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kosovo)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo is the ministry in the Government of Kosovo which is in charge of foreign relations and admission of Kosovo into the European Union.-Foreign Ministers:*2008-2010: Skënder Hyseni...
of the Republic of Kosovo
Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
, Enver Hoxhaj
Enver Hoxhaj
Enver Hoxhaj is the current Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo and a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo.-Career:He was previously Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo. He previously served as a professor at the University of Pristina...
in the name of the Government
Government of Kosovo
The Cabinet of Kosovo is the collection of Kosovo institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and also includes the deputy prime ministers as well as various ministers.The Prime Minister is elected by the Assembly of the Republic...
has condemned the attack on the UK Embassy in the capital of Iran, Tehran.
In this case, Hoxhaj stressed that such acts are unacceptable and contrary to international laws and practices regulating the relations between states. Hoxhaj Wednesday sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
, William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
, expressing support of the people and the Government of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The letter states that "The Government of Kosovo
Government of Kosovo
The Cabinet of Kosovo is the collection of Kosovo institutions that exercises executive authority in Kosovo. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and also includes the deputy prime ministers as well as various ministers.The Prime Minister is elected by the Assembly of the Republic...
joins the democratic Government, calling the Government of Iran to respect international obligations, in order to ensure the normal functioning of diplomatic representation of UK in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
".
See also
- Iran hostage crisisIran hostage crisisThe Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian...
- Iranian Embassy siegeIranian Embassy SiegeThe Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, London. The gunmen took 26 people hostage—mostly embassy staff, but several visitors and a police officer, who had been guarding the embassy, were also...