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Title: Britain Downgrades Diplomatic Ties With Iran Post by: Brocke on November 30, 2011, 03:30:39 pm Britain Downgrades Diplomatic Ties With Iran Reuters By ALAN COWELL, ROBERT F. WORTH and RICK GLADSTONE Published: November 30, 2011 LONDON — Britain deepened Iran’s isolation on Wednesday by closing the vandalized British embassy in Tehran, withdrawing all its diplomats and ordering the Iranians to do the same at their London diplomatic mission within 48 hours, escalating the most serious rupture of relations in decades. At least four other European countries also moved to reduce diplomatic contacts with Iran. Dozens of Iranian protesters stormed the British embassy compound in Tehran on Tuesday, according to officials in London. More Photos » The British measures were announced by Foreign Secretary William Hague a day after Iranian protesters shouting “Death to England” stormed the British Embassy compound and a diplomatic residence in Tehran, tearing down the Union Jack, smashing windows, defacing walls. setting a vehicle afire and briefly detaining six staff members. The attack appeared to be a state-sponsored protest against Britain’s tough new economic sanctions against Iran because of its suspect nuclear energy program. more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/world/middleeast/british-embassy-iran-diplomats-evacuated.html?hp |