News / Politics

Tehran summons UK envoy over ‘baseless’ anti-Iran charges

Wednesday, 22 February 2023 9:18 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 22 February 2023 9:18 AM ]

The file photo shows a view of Iran’s Foreign Ministry building in the capital, Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the British interim chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest the UK government’s policy of leveling unfounded accusations against the Islamic Republic and promoting Iranophobia.

In a meeting with the British diplomat, Isabelle Marsh, on Wednesday, the head of the West Europe department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said making “baseless claims” amounts to continuing the policy of Iranophobia, calling on the British government to stop its “unfriendly approach.”

The development came a day after the British government summoned Iran’s top diplomat to condemn what it called “serious threats” to the lives of UK-based journalists, after the so-called Iran International TV channel moved its broadcasting from London to Washington.

UK-based terrorist TV’s relocation to US division of labour among spy agencies: Iran’s Foreign Ministry

Iran says the relocation of the terrorist "Iran International" TV from the UK to the United States is a division of labour between the spy agencies of several countries that are sponsoring the hostile channel.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said a senior official in his ministry met Iran’s charge d’affaires Mehdi Hosseini Matin “to make clear the UK will not tolerate threats to life and media freedom.”

Also on Monday, Britain imposed sanctions on eight senior Iranian figures, including judges, members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and regional governors, alleging that they were responsible for “horrific human rights violations.”

The head of the West Europe department of the Iranian Foreign Ministry denounced the new sanctions as a political move.

“A country that allows the most severe discrimination and atrocities against immigrants and Muslims and forcibly transfers refugees to Rwanda in violation of international law is not in a position to talk about human rights,” he said.

“Over the past four decades, the Islamic Republic has proven that it will not give in to foreign blame games and pressure, and accordingly, it will soon announce a reciprocal response to the British regime’s sanctions.”

British officials have made meddlesome remarks about Iran’s domestic affairs since the outbreak of recent riots across the country sparked by separatist and terrorist groups. London has voiced support for the rioters and hit dozens of Iranian individuals and entities with sanctions over purported rights violations.

The violent riots erupted last September over the death in police custody of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini. An investigation has attributed Amini’s death to her medical condition, rather than alleged beatings by the police.

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