Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Mar 8: The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned British ambassador to Tehran, Hugo Shorter, protesting the recent "anti-Iran" stance taken by senior UK officials.

According to a statement issued on Friday, Iran objected to what it called ‘baseless claims’ by British authorities, particularly allegations that Tehran was interfering in Britain’s internal affairs.

During the meeting, Alireza Yousefi, assistant foreign minister and director general for Western Europe, criticised the UK's ‘biased’ remarks, saying they contradicted international law and diplomatic norms. He added that such statements only deepened Iranian public distrust toward Britain’s policies in the West Asia region.

Calling for a policy revision, Yousefi urged the UK to adopt a more constructive approach toward Iran.

In response, ambassador Shorter assured that he would convey Iran’s concerns to his government, reported Xinhua news agency.

The development comes after British security minister Dan Jarvis, in an address to Parliament, announced plans to place Iran’s intelligence services, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and the ministry of intelligence under stricter scrutiny through the foreign influence registration scheme. He alleged an increase in Iran’s activities targeting dissidents, journalists, and media organisations in the UK.

Rejecting these accusations, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei urged Britain to refrain from ‘unconstructive approaches’ towards Tehran and the region.