British Oust 15 Iranian Envoys; 1 Left in Tehran

Britain on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 15 Iranian diplomats and said it is reducing its own diplomatic presence in Tehran to a single representative.

“The one remaining (in Iran) will have a care-taking function only,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

The decision, which the spokesman said “does not constitute a breach of diplomatic relations,” leaves only one diplomat in charge of the Iranian Embassy in London.

The Iranian news agency IRNA had said earlier that Tehran was withdrawing 15 of its 16 remaining representatives from London within two weeks.

Thursday’s action was the latest escalation of a three-week diplomatic row triggered by the arrest May 9 of an Iranian consular official in Manchester, northern England, on shoplifting charges.

Demands Ignored

Three weeks later, Britain’s No. 2 man in Tehran was abducted by Revolutionary Guards, beaten up and held for 24 hours.

When Britain’s demand for an apology and explanation went unanswered, the two governments embarked on a series of tit-for-tat expulsions.

The British spokesman said Thursday’s decision was taken after three meetings between British and Iranian officials within the past 48 hours in London and Tehran.

The Iranians put forward proposals to end the crisis but those were unacceptable to Britain, the spokesman said. He declined to specify what the proposals were but said they were unbalanced.

Britain said its interests in Iran will be represented by the Swedish Embassy, which has housed a British interests section since 1980, when the British Embassy was closed for security reasons.

‘Britain Remains Ready’

Wednesday night, London withdrew all but two of its remaining representatives in Tehran and said Thursday that it will reduce the number to one by the end of the month. Before the crisis, Iran had 23 diplomats in Britain while Britain had 19 in Tehran.

But the spokesman said that Britain is anxious not to close the door on Iran.

“Britain remains ready to respond to any genuine willingness on the part of Iran to enter into constructive dialogue,” he said.

In the last four years, Britain has broken relations with Libya and Syria for what it said was their involvement in state-sponsored terrorism. Thursday’s move is likely to signal a further reduction in British influence in the Middle East.

Iran has special importance because of its leverage over militant Islamic organizations in Lebanon believed to be holding 28 foreigners captive, three of them British.

The spokesman said the plight of the hostages, who include Anglican church envoy Terry Waite, had been a factor in Britain’s considerations.

Responsibility Noted

The spokesman said that Britain still expected Iran to try to secure their release.

“It is the responsibility of all governments to help in any way they can and this responsibility has not been affected,” he said.

Earlier, Tehran radio had commented on the reduction in diplomatic representation, saying: “This decision was taken following the crisis in relations between the countries, the assault on the Iranian diplomat in Manchester and the tit-for-tat expulsions of both sides’ diplomats.”

The Iranian consular official claimed he was beaten up by police in Manchester, after being arrested on shoplifting charges.

The Foreign Office warned the 250 British citizens living in Iran and anyone planning to travel there that the situation could deteriorate. It urged them to leave if they could.

Iran is an important trading partner for Britain. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, British exports to Iran were worth $660 million last year, with imports from Iran worth $166 million.