Why would the Iranian regime allow such destructive behavior, and what do they expect to gain from it ?
The British decision to close the Iranian embassy in London and expel the Iranian diplomats was expected after a mob attack on the British embassy in Tehran. The British Foreign Secretary closed the Iranian embassy in London, giving 48 hours to its diplomats ( 17 officers )to leave the country.
Why would the Iranian regime provoke such attack on a diplomatic compound ?
In February 1989, demonstrators attacked the British compound after the announcement of a death sentence on Salman Rushdie. But the police prevented the demonstrators from entering the building and trashing the facilities. As far as I can remember, this is the first time British embassy has been ransacked, and with the exception of a short announcement from Iranian foreign ministry expressing its regrets, senior officials have justified the attack due "Britain's hegemonic" behavior.
Some parliamentarians are even calling for more actions against the British (without mentioning what else can be done ! ). In contrast to the 1979 attack on the American embassy, the public did not join the attacking mob.
The attack on the British embassy is a sad reflection of the frustrations of Iranian regime compounded by internal factional battles that have weaken the regime's ability to deal with its problems in a calm and rational manner. The embassy attack will only deepen Iran's international isolation, and encouraging tougher sanctions on the regime, including possible embargo on oil exports. France, Germany, Holland, Italy, and Sweden have recalled their ambassadors. Norway has closed its embassy in Tehran, and Russia condemned the attack.
UK-Iran relations have suffered from centuries of mistrust and duplicitous actions by British officials from the 1813 when Sir Gore Ouseley helped the Russians in forcing Iran to accept a humiliating deal that resulted in loss of territory to the Russians, to 1920s when Gen Edmund Ironside helped restore Reza Shah to the throne, and to the MI6 coup against a nationalist prime minister in 1950s. The clerical regime also accused Britain of supporting the Green Movement and the demonstrations in 2009.
It is impossible to talk about Britain without attaching conspiratorial intentions to British objectives in Iran.The mistrust has resulted in a permanent conspiratorial psyche inside Iran in which Iranians of all class and status believe a secret British plot, including one that protects the clerics, pushes U.S. into policies designed in London, and engages in a sophisticated media campaign to fool people. This mindset will not change that easily, and the latest turn of events will only exacerbate the conditions that feed into this mindset.
Why would the Iranian regime provoke such attack on a diplomatic compound ?
In February 1989, demonstrators attacked the British compound after the announcement of a death sentence on Salman Rushdie. But the police prevented the demonstrators from entering the building and trashing the facilities. As far as I can remember, this is the first time British embassy has been ransacked, and with the exception of a short announcement from Iranian foreign ministry expressing its regrets, senior officials have justified the attack due "Britain's hegemonic" behavior.
Some parliamentarians are even calling for more actions against the British (without mentioning what else can be done ! ). In contrast to the 1979 attack on the American embassy, the public did not join the attacking mob.
The attack on the British embassy is a sad reflection of the frustrations of Iranian regime compounded by internal factional battles that have weaken the regime's ability to deal with its problems in a calm and rational manner. The embassy attack will only deepen Iran's international isolation, and encouraging tougher sanctions on the regime, including possible embargo on oil exports. France, Germany, Holland, Italy, and Sweden have recalled their ambassadors. Norway has closed its embassy in Tehran, and Russia condemned the attack.
UK-Iran relations have suffered from centuries of mistrust and duplicitous actions by British officials from the 1813 when Sir Gore Ouseley helped the Russians in forcing Iran to accept a humiliating deal that resulted in loss of territory to the Russians, to 1920s when Gen Edmund Ironside helped restore Reza Shah to the throne, and to the MI6 coup against a nationalist prime minister in 1950s. The clerical regime also accused Britain of supporting the Green Movement and the demonstrations in 2009.
It is impossible to talk about Britain without attaching conspiratorial intentions to British objectives in Iran.The mistrust has resulted in a permanent conspiratorial psyche inside Iran in which Iranians of all class and status believe a secret British plot, including one that protects the clerics, pushes U.S. into policies designed in London, and engages in a sophisticated media campaign to fool people. This mindset will not change that easily, and the latest turn of events will only exacerbate the conditions that feed into this mindset.
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