London pulls staff from Iran

LONDON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- London said Wednesday it shut its embassy in Tehran and pulled staff out of Iran in response to attacks on two compounds by Iranian demonstrators.

The British government said student members of the Basij paramilitary organization were behind attacks on two of its embassy compounds Tuesday in Tehran. Tehran said riot police fired tear gas at demonstrators though British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the response was belated.

Hague, in an address to Parliament, said Tuesday's incident was a major violation of international laws regarding foreign diplomats.

"We have now closed the British Embassy in Tehran," he said in his address. "We have decided to evacuate all our staff and as of the last few minutes all our U.K.-based staff have now left Iran."

He added that while London would maintain diplomatic ties to Tehran, the immediate response "cannot be the end of the matter."

The security breach followed a decision by the Iranian government to downgrade diplomatic ties with London. Ali Larijani, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said Tehran had grown weary of London's adventurist behavior, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reports.

Larijani noted Tehran has, for the past few decades, been unhappy with the British government.

Hague said London was particularly frustrated with Iran's nuclear program and human rights record.

The U.N. Security Council in response reminded Tehran of its obligations to ensure the protection of foreign diplomats in the country.

No embassy staff members were reported injured during Tuesday's incident though Tehran said some demonstrators were hurt.