UK summons Iranian ambassador over ‘brutal’ killings
The UK government has summoned Iran’s ambassador in response to ongoing “brutal” killings of protesters in the country, the foreign secretary said.
Thousands of people are thought to have died or been detained following a crackdown on anti-government protesters across Iran in recent days.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that “the UK completely abhors the killings, violence and repression we have seen” and said she feared the death toll could be significantly higher than reported so far.
He also said the government would impose “full and further sanctions” against Iran, targeting finance, energy, transportation, software and other key sectors.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specifically state what form the new sanctions would take or when they would be implemented.
Cooper, who met directly with Iran’s foreign minister on Monday to raise Britain’s objections to the crackdown, said the decision to summon the ambassador on Tuesday followed “appalling reports” of violence overnight and was to “underline the seriousness of the moment”.
Protests that started in December initially caused by economic difficulties and rising inflationbut has since expanded into more widespread anti-regime rallies.
In response, Tehran’s security forces responded with heavy force, using live ammunition against the crowds and making a number of arrests.
Last Thursday, Iranian authorities also imposed a near-total internet blackout in an attempt to quell the unrest. As a result, Iranians have almost completely cut off their ties with the outside world.
The country restricts international news organizations from operating there, hampering efforts to independently verify the number of deaths during the protests.
Cooper said the Iranian government is “selling the manufactured narrative of foreign manipulation” and portraying protesters as criminals and terrorists.
He added: “The UK condemns in the strongest terms the appalling and brutal killing of Iranian protesters and we demand that the Iranian authorities respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens.”
Cooper also said British officials were in contact with their Iranian counterparts regarding British citizens detained there.
