Iranian Diplomats Leave UK After Expulsion, Iran Prepares Hero’s Welcome
- Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:09pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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TEHRAN, Iran (The Blaze/AP) — Iran prepared a high-profile welcome for its diplomats expelled Friday from London in retaliation for attacks on British compounds in Tehran that Western leaders claim were sanctioned by Tehran’s ruling elite.
The official reception planned for the roughly two dozen diplomats and their families – including a rare invitation to foreign media to cover the airport event – apparently was designed to send a message that Iran will not seek quick measures to heal the most serious diplomatic fallout with the West since the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy after the Islamic Revolution.
Germany, France and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors, and Italy and Spain summoned Iranian envoys to condemn Tuesday’s storming of the British Embassy and residential complex.
Britain withdrew its diplomatic staff and their families, shuttered its ransacked embassy and ordered the Iranian diplomats expelled by Friday afternoon.
The larger blow may be to Iran’s relations with the West and others. The diplomatic freeze from Europe, including key trading partner Germany, further isolates Iran just weeks after a report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency that alleged Iran was making strides toward mastering critical elements for atomic weapons.
Iran claims its nuclear program only seeks reactors for power and research. But the current breakdown in relations with the West could embolden hard-liners who want a tougher stance against the International Atomic Energy Agency, which they accuse of being manipulated by the U.S. and allies.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran will certainly “retaliate” for the British expulsions.
The British Foreign Office said “all diplomatic staff of the Iranian Embassy in London took off from Heathrow airport” on Friday afternoon. They were to be welcomed back by a group of Iranians early Saturday at the Tehran airport, Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported.
Euronews provides a report:
The offer for foreign media to cover their arrival stands in sharp counterpoint to an order Thursday banning non-Iranian outlets from reporting on rallies in front of the now-vacant British diplomatic sites in the capital without specific permission.
Britain’s ambassador to Iran, Dominick Chilcott – now back in Britain – offered new details about the attacks, saying the experience had been “frightening.”
“We had no idea how it was going to end,” he said, describing how the mob trashed rooms, damaged furniture, scrawled graffiti and tore up a portrait of Queen Victoria, as staff took shelter in a secure area of the embassy.
“It felt like very spiteful, mindless vandalism, but it wasn’t quite mindless,” Chilcott said. “They removed anything that was electronic – mobile telephones, personal computers – anything that might give information about who you were talking to or what you were doing.”
He said seven staff at a separate residential compound that was also attacked were seized and “quite roughly handled” by the invaders.
Hard-liners in Iran have said the attack was an outpouring of the wrath of the Iranian people who believe Britain is a hostile country seeking to damage and weaken the Islamic Republic. Mohammad Mohammadian, a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, praised the attackers, saying they had targeted the “epicenter of sedition.”
Iranian government officials, meanwhile, said the storming of the embassy by angry protesters was unexpected and Iranian police intervened to protect the British diplomats and get the attackers out of the buildings.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague has led the accusations that the rioters had a green light from Iranian authorities, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard. On Thursday, he said the attacks were “clearly premeditated” by high-ranking officials.
The demonstrations had been organized by hard-line groups on university campuses and Islamic seminaries and included denunciations of the latest sanctions on Iran over its nuclear efforts. Such major anti-Western rallies are rarely allowed to occur without official approval and often include state-backed forces including a paramilitary group known as the Basij, which is part of the vast security network controlled by the Revolutionary Guard.
Images broadcast around the world showed demonstrators tearing down Union Jack flags, brandishing a looted picture of Queen Elizabeth II and tossing out looted documents.
The deepening tensions with Britain and others may also trigger further rifts within Iran.
For months, Iran’s ruling system has ordered arrests and intimidation against political allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has sharply fallen from favor after challenging decisions by the head of the theocracy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ahmadinejad has remained silent since the attacks, but his supporters have raised questions about whether Iran’s interests are served by a diplomatic battle with the West.
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Comments (45)
heyjim55
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:37amI would think that a military event is coming soon to Iran, Israel is getting heat from the White House as recently as today. There have been two reports of explosions in Iran at two different locations that are highly suspecious. Israel has been asked not to isolate itself any further and with the diplomatic dust up going on with England and other European countries over the attack on the Brittish embassy. It would not surprise me that this attack was a false flag orcastrated by cells in Iran to provoke a diplomatic response from Europe in order to give their Embassies a chance to pull their staff out of Iran as to give them cover, and not tip off the Iranian’s that there was a attack coming. I know it might be weak but judging from what Irans friends are doing something coming.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:32amI’m glad, now all we need to do is throw more out of America as well! After all, if they hate us so much, why would they ever come in the first place???? Not to mention the Muslim Brotherhood in our White House trying to shove it down our throats at every chance! GFY!
Report Post »Quagaar Warrior
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:04am~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report Post »I say, exile all Persians & Arabs from around the world back to their native countries.
That way, there won’t be any leftovers after Israel finally does what needs to be done!
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Boox
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 6:55amPersian and Arab doesn’t necessarily mean Muslim. Remember that. I have a Persian friend that came here long ago to get a decent education as an architect and he loves this country as much as I do. He thinks Islam is evil.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:49amthese people are to stupid to know they have just been dishonored.. they have been THROWN out of a country..
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 1:12amA badge of Honor…except, it had to hurt getting thrown out of the United Kingdom. Frankly, that is still the ultimate “univited” list out there.
Report Post »quickstudy
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 11:40pmFunny how on their jet they have the name ‘IRAN AIR’. In ENGLISH? If it is IRANIAN why isn’t in their language? I thought they were the supremacists.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 12:10amLOL LOL!
Ahh, the good ‘ole years, back when “Airplane” spoofed Israel air…Gee, do you think Iranian Air would have a suicide belt strapped around the plane??? {and this is where (after hitting reply) my computer goes nuts…}
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 6:06amIts a bomb in the baggage compartment. Dont be an idiot… suicide belt, sheez… (JK FRIEND)
Report Post »READRIGHTHERE
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:30pmIts time to lay siege. Cut off their supplies. No cash to them or those who choose to support them (Russia) included. They have done enough. Prepare the troops and surround them with our presence and put them under a freeze order. One false move and we shoot. Cut off their cash supplies, and wait out their demise. No more capitalist rain for their infertile soil.
Report Post »Quagaar Warrior
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:36pm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report Post »With Obama at the top?
GOOD LUCK!!!
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sasquatch08
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:36pmIt’s easier than that.
1)Figure out what they need but can’t produce domestically. 2) Cut supply lines. 3)Wait.
With globalization, the same tactic that used to work with a castle now works with most countries. If Ron Paul would just realize this he really would be the best choice for president.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 6:08amThat would be gasoline.
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:27pmIf only Abraham listened to God, and had not known Hagar.
Report Post »Boox
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 7:04amJust a little patience on Abraham’s part would have saved a lot of lives, yes. Sarah should have kicked his butt all over the Middle East for propagating the barbarians. The Bible says the Arabs will always be a thorn in our side….makes the end times look pretty darn creepy.
Report Post »sasquatch08
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:22pmToo bad the liberals don‘t realize there’s “fallout” that’s worse than “diplomatic fallout” and the Iranians would love to rain it all over the world.
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:45pmAll air traffic to and from Iran should be banned, including transfers through other countries.
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 10:00pmI think the season that causes the migration of birds to fly from Israel into the heart of Iran is upon us.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:14pmWe’re already at war. The skirmishers have already met on the field of battle.
It really sucks having to go to war. But to not fight & suffer an Islamic dark age would be much worse if not fatal for mankind.
Report Post »blaaaaackwoman
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:50pmYou put it perfectly, an Islamic Dark age.
Report Post »spfoam1
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:09pmHey Ahmadinijad, what’s that up in the sky? It’s a bird….it’s a plane….no, it’s a …oh ****! BOOOOM!
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:07pmIn related news–Obama welcomes orphaned diplomats to New York City, and the UN.
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:55pmThey can fly back with our troops during withdrawal from their borders>Then to make sure they are not “real terrorist” we will sell them Stinger missiles and figure out what there intentions were.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:05pmCaroline Glick has a great article about “the real war in Iran” in todays Jeruselem Post opinion section. I find it interesting what she writes about Obama too.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:15pmSkirmishers. The vanguard of much larger armies.
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:04pmIs the stage being set?
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:23pmYes, the chorus is singing to distract the audience, while the props are being moved around backstage. Occassionally, you can see the curtain move from the furious pace, but keep your eyes AND EARS upon the chorus…Never mind that man behind the curtain. lol
Report Post »MrKnowItAll
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:03pmThose funny little so called men in their funny little hats and robes. I’m Laughing! Hitler thought he was invincible too. What could he have been thinking hiding in that bunker?
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:03pmAn Iran with nuclear weapons isn’t unacceptable, just this present regimes Iran with such weapons. If the old shaw had them would we be having this discussion? I rather doubt it.
Report Post »I’m with Dr. Paul, we, that is America should never PRE empt. It’s the very thought of PRE emptive wars that have given us the Patriot act and the recient vote to OK the never-ending imprisonment of US citizens without trial or even being charged with a crime. All of that is 100% unconstitutional, as are PRE emptive wars. IF and only IF someone is foolish eneough to attack our nation ( I DESPISE the word “ homeland”, it’s socialistic in origin ) the and only the do we eradicate their nation OFF the face of the planet, in a most predijucial manner as Possiable too boot ! Only one nation would ever attack us, after that I seriously doubt anyone would ever try that again.
DO NOT let the Neocon media push you into wars, it’s the other half of the liberal agenda, both guided by the Corporate globalist elite that have usurped our countries government and is USING socialism as a means of enslavement.
Research the http://www.CFR.org to verify.
13th Imam
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:56pmNo mention that Putie and the Russian Horde will pick up the slack of helping Iran get nukes.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:55pmAhh, reminds me of the Hero’s Welcome the Lockerbie Bomber got. FYI-the players are withdrawing. This DOES include U.S. troops by the way. The stage is being set and prepared. Let the play begin…continue…actually-CONCLUDES.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:37pmInstead of preparing for a hero’s welcome they had better be preparing to get there butts kicked!
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:20pmposted wrong page, duh
Report Post »Quagaar Warrior
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:44pm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Report Post »I see you’ve been schooled by Meghan McCain.
Just kiddin’!
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Shasta
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:20pmShe has three children that are no longer living with her. I wonder how many children they all have.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:17pmThey did not learn… after the US Embassy take over! Fool me once, shame on you… fool me twice, shame on me!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:39pmLUKRE, I don’t get your post. The British left Iran and kicked out the Iranian diplomats. No, the world has learned from the 1979 (?) takeover of the US embassy. Not sure what you’re talking about.
Report Post »whereiswashington
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:14pmDon’t let the door hit you in your arse on the way out!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:13pmI will bet my left kidney (or right – your choice) that Israel is preparing their own “welcome home” for these yo-yos.
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:00pmI believe you are correct sir!
Report Post »MTCOWBOY711
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 9:02pmThe clock is ticking
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:12pmEnjoy your ‘hero’s welcome’ as you are only villans to the rest of the world.
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