Iran protesters storm UK embassy in Tehran

[Exodia]

During an anti-UK demonstration, protestors broke into the UK embassy.

Militant students are said to have removed the British flag, burnt it and replaced it with Iran's flag. State TV showed youths smashing embassy windows.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15936213

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------

Sounds like a second building now:

Iranian protesters stormed a second British embassy compound in northern Tehran on Tuesday, as others were still occupying the main building in the city center many miles away, news agencies reported.

http://news.yahoo.com/uk-employees-f...134142461.html[COLOR="Silver"]

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 AM ----------

Some additional detail in this story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...Name=topNew s

[Sonny]

By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 9:22 AM EST, Tue November 29, 2011
Video clip from IRAN TV

Britain cut all financial ties with Iran last week over concerns about Iran's nuclear program, the first time it has cut an entire country's banking sector off from British finance, the British Treasury announced.

Last week, all British credit and financial institutions were ordered to end their business relationships and transactions with all Iranian banks, their branches and subsidiaries by Monday.

!

[Oric]

When did the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) blacklist start to contain all Iranian banks ? I missed that part. If the list has enlarged (which is most likely), Iranians are in revolt against the wrong target. If it was UK's own choice to cut all financial ties, that is the kind of response they will get, I am not suprised.

[Exodia]

Originally Posted by Oric

If it was UK's own choice to cut all financial ties, that is the kind of response they will get, I am not suprised.

Right, because when Iran announced it would attack NATO installations in Turkey, protestors immediately stormed and firebombed the Iranian ambassy in Ankara in a perfectly rational act. Oh wait, they didn't. Nevermind.

[Exodia]

Zerohedge is reporting that Irainian TV and news had reported that 6 to 8 British hostages were taken, with these reports then being removed (sounds familiar).

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/iran-u...n-contra-redux

ETA: Interesting comment under the artilce:
These folks will be held hostage until the first Iranian nuke (and delivery system) is ready to go. Its all about making sure no more sabotague occurs till then.

[Sonny]

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said plans to attack Turkey was part of Iran's strategy if the U.S. or Israel tries to destroy its nuclear installations.

By Daily Mail on 28th November 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...allations.html

Oric has this been on your News there? It's the First I've heard of it.
!

[Auburn Boy]

[Exodia]

Excellent work officers!



---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Sonny

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said plans to attack Turkey was part of Iran's strategy if the U.S. or Israel tries to destroy its nuclear installations.

By Daily Mail on 28th November 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...allations.html

Oric has this been on your News there? It's the First I've heard of it.
!

http://thisbluemarble.com/showthread.php?t=41938

[Exodia]

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said protesters took six British diplomatic staff hostage from an embassy compound in the north of the city but it withdrew the story from its website minutes later without giving any explanation.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7AS0X720111129

[Exodia]

OK, consider the source here while reading:

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9007275423

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Law Enforcement Police rescued 6 British staff members in the Qolhak Garden in Northern Tehran, after the protesters raided the orchid and started a sit-in.

[Exodia]

Twitter:

@ThomasErdbrink
Washington Post Iran

#Iran situation in front of northern British embassy compound still tense, students say they have handed "spies" over to police

[Catbird]

Per Reuters, Brits now saying that no one was taken.


"The whereabouts of staff after protesters stormed the British embassy in Tehran was confusing at times, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday, but he contradicted reports that six embassy staff had briefly been held hostage.

"There has been a confusing situation at times as to the whereabouts of certain staff. I wouldn't use the term hostage," Hague told reporters.

Separately, a British government source said no hostages were taken and said confusion had arisen because Iranian police had told some embassy staff to stay where they were during the protest."

[Oric]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said plans to attack Turkey was part of Iran's strategy if the U.S. or Israel tries to destroy its nuclear installations.

By Daily Mail on 28th November 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...allations.html

Oric has this been on your News there? It's the First I've heard of it.
!

Yes it has been on the news, iran is not very happy about the NATO radar to be deployed as a part of ballistic missille dEfense system in Turkey. Will they really bomb it ? No ...

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Exodia

Right, because when Iran announced it would attack NATO installations in Turkey, protestors immediately stormed and firebombed the Iranian ambassy in Ankara in a perfectly rational act. Oh wait, they didn't. Nevermind.

Exodia, that is not the answer to my analysis. If UK decided to take very harsh embargo measures against Iran by itself, Iranians will assume UK is now a full enemy of iran and respond accordingly. What did iran do to uk to recieve full economical embargo is an honest question to be asked ...

[Exodia]

My point is that you think that a mob rushing past "police" doing nothing to stop them and ransacking an embassy is "responding accordingly".

[Catbird]

Twitter:

@ReutersIndia
"FLASH: British embassy evacuates its staff from Iran - Diplomatic sources"

[ukmum]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15966628

UK expels all Iranian diplomats over embassy attack

[Ross]

All good clean fun .

No deaths and no cannibalism so Oric will not need an alibi .

Sabotage a few more Iranian military bases and it will all
be forgotten within days .







.

[Catbird]

Lots of ambassadors being recalled from Tehran.

Twitter:
@Reuter's:

"Iran calls British move to close Iran embassy in London 'hasty'; says Iran will take 'further appropriate action,' state TV says - @Reuters

More: Iran foreign ministry says it holds Britain responsible for security of its diplomatic properties in the UK, state TV says - @Reuters"

""Italy mulls closing Tehran embassy: foreign minister"

And things are likely to get more interesting:

Twitter:
"@Reuters
Britain plans to support ban on Iranian oil imports either alone or through coalition with France, Germany -Diplomatic source"

[Samen]

Norway is out

[Exodia]

Originally Posted by Samen

Norway is out

Did they recall them? According to this story, the diplomatic staff is still there, but the embassy was closed.

http://www.thelocal.no/page/view/nor...mission-attack

---------- Post added at 02:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:56 PM ----------

Also, France recalled their embassador (AP story, sorry no link -- Drudge has it).

[Catbird]

There's been a lot of talk on the net today that the UK will take further steps once all Brits are well clear of Iran.

One of the things that I'm seeing listed as a possibility is that the UK will shut down the London office of Irans' PressTV and/or PressTV Limited Production Company. It's registered in England just like any other approved media and thus can be UN-registered. That's just the kind of clever, and entirely proper, diplomatic move that makes the Brits good at this type of dance.

That would make thing even more interesting.

And I'm also reading that the Netherlands has either pulled out or shut down their embassy as well.

[Malcolm]

"Big News"........The UK is kicking out all Iranian Diplomatic staff.
An empty "Embassy".......Woa

[Ought Six]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7B023N20111201

Analysis: British embassy storming bares rift in Iran elite

[Catbird]

BBC Monitoring provides translations of discussion about world events from media of various nations. Some interesting comments about this include:

"Editorial in Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan

This repeated scenario [of attacking foreign embassies] has become a characteristic of Iran… some regimes are not able to co-exist as much as they are able to antagonise others and get out of domestic crises by creating crises with foreign countries.


Hassan Haydar in Pan-Arab Al-Hayat

The world must be tired of these little games being repeated by the Iranian regime and mimicked by its Syrian ally, in storming embassies. The issue, indeed, requires a harsh international response.


Suleyman Yasar in Turkey's Sabah

Tension around Iran always keeps oil prices high… That is why it is possible that Iran, Israel and those countries which own big oil companies - the USA and the UK - agree on stirring up tension consciously in order to keep oil prices high.


Bayram Sinkaya in Russia's Izvestiya

This provocation is aimed at destroying the president's faction… President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is currently a very significant figure in Iranian foreign policy, whereas the Majlis - parliament - is in the shadow… Many are unhappy about this, and the attack on the embassy is a good way to discredit the president as a person unable to establish normal ties with anyone.


Chen Xiaoru in China's Zhongguo Qingnian Bao

Since the outbreak of the 'Arab Spring', the US and Europe have been trying to devise ways to provoke and isolate Iran to undermine its relatively balanced relations with Muslim countries. The storming of the UK embassy by Iranian students has provided such a unique opportunity.


Hasan Ahmadi-Fard in Iran's Qods

The Iranian people should be sure that this time Britain, Europe and the UN Security Council cannot do a damn [thing against Iran]… We continue to stick to our values by maintaining peace and respecting all the international laws and firmly announce that if all the countries in the world stand against our beliefs, we would stand alone against them

.

And then there's this little item about the damage done at the UK compound.

"One western diplomat who visited the scene on Thursday said priceless oil paintings has been slashed and that the protesters had cut the face out of a portrait of Queen Victoria...".

Kind of makes you wonder if they realize that...well, yanno... she's not in charge anymore.