Shots Fired at UK Mission in Tehran

[Nambe]

Arab News, Reuters

TEHRAN, 4 September 2003 — Iran’s ambassador in London has returned home amid simmering tensions over Britain’s arrest of a former Iranian diplomat, made worse yesterday by a drive-by shooting at the British Embassy building in Tehran.

British and Iranian officials said diplomatic ties had not been downgraded, though the Tehran government’s envoy had gone back to Iran. Relations have been strained by the case of Hadi Soleimanpour, a former Iranian ambassador arrested in Britain at Argentina’s request in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires.

Iran says the arrest is politically motivated and has threatened “strong action”. Britain denies the charge and says its courts are independent of politics. Adding to the charged atmosphere, gunshots fired from a passing motorbike hit the British Embassy in Tehran, causing no injuries but prompting the mission to shut temporarily. ---