Ban voices outrage after attack against UK embassy in Iranian capital

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his shock and outrage at yesterday’s attack against the United Kingdom’s embassy in Iran and urged the country’s authorities to take steps to prevent similar attacks against other diplomatic missions.

The UK embassy and wider compound in Tehran were seriously damaged in the attack, according to media reports, with students ransacking offices, burning a flag and smashing windows.

The demonstrators, who briefly abducted some embassy staff, had been protesting against sanctions imposed by the UK.

Mr. Ban met today with Andrew Mitchell, the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, on the sidelines of the high-level forum on aid effectiveness in Busan, Republic of Korea (ROK).

His spokesperson said the Secretary-General told Mr. Mitchell of his shock and outrage, and welcomed the Security Council’s statement yesterday in which the 15-member panel also condemned the incident.

Mr. Ban said Iranian authorities should investigate how the attack could have happened and take measures to avoid a repeat, either at the UK embassy or at other diplomatic missions.