Iranians Storm British Embassy

 

Iranian protesters have stormed the British embassy in Tehran in response to Britain's new economic sanctions against Iran for its suspected program to develop nuclear weapons.

 

Iranians scattered embassy documents, threw stones, broke windows and replaced the British flag with an Iranian one Tuesday. The rioters also looted a portrait of Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

 

Outside the embassy, protesters chanted "death to Britain."

 

Last week, Britain cut business transactions with all banks in Iran, including Iran's Central Bank, as part of coordinated sanctions with the United States and Canada. It was the first time Britain has cut ties with the entire banking sector of a country.

On Monday, Iran's constitutional oversight body ratified a bill passed by parliament the day before to reduce diplomatic and economic ties with Britain.

 

The bill pushes the British ambassador out within two weeks, leaving Britain's embassy to be run by a charge d'affaires. Economic relations with London will also be reduced to a minimum.

 

New sanctions from Britain, the U.S. and Canada followed a report by the U.N. atomic energy agency strongly suggesting that Iran is researching nuclear weapons.

Tehran says its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes. ---VOA News