Iran warns 'reciprocal action' to Britain shutting embassy

Iran on Wednesday warned that it will take measures against Britain after its decision to close the Islamic republics embassy in London, a foreign ministry spokesman said.The British governments asking Iranian diplomats in London to leave this country is a passive and hasty action, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.Obviously the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will take reciprocal action in this regard and holds the British government responsible for protecting the diplomatic properties and belongings in London, he added.What happened at the British embassy in Tehran was unpredictable. It occured due to the anger of some demonstrators over Britains policies regarding the Islamic republic, Mehmanparast said.He noted that none of the British diplomats were hurt and said the judiciary was dealing with the violators.Iran is committed to international obligations, and considers unacceptable any aggression towards diplomats and diplomatic properties, Mehmanparast added.Earlier, top lawmaker Aladdin Brujerdi lashed out at Britain for shutting the Iranian embassy in London and warned of repercussions and urged other European Union nations not to follow suit.Britain is responsible for all the repercussions of its action, Brujerdi, chairman of the Iranian parliamentary national security and foreign policy commission, told Al-Alam news channel.Mehmanparast and Brujerdi were responding to British Foreign Secretary William Hague who earlier said London was shutting its embassy in Tehran and ordering the immediate closure of Irans embassy to Britain. Iranian diplomats had until Friday to leave the country, Hague said.The announcement was in response to Tuesdays storming of Britains embassy in Tehran by Iranian protesters who Hague said were likely sent by the Islamic republics rulers.We (parliament) reduced diplomatic ties (with Britain) but public opinion is pleased that British diplomats are no longer in Iran, Brujerdi said.