UK Summons Iranian Ambassador Over Social Media Comments

The United Kingdom stated on Tuesday that the Iranian Ambassador in London was summoned following what the government described as “unacceptable and inflammatory” social media comments by the Iranian Embassy, Reuters reports.

UK Minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, made it clear that the embassy “must cease all forms of communication that could be interpreted as inciting violence in the UK or internationally,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Earlier this month, the Iranian Embassy posted a statement on its Telegram channel calling for Iranians in the UK to volunteer for a campaign to declare their readiness to sacrifice their lives in a war to defend their country.

The British government did not specify which particular social media comments were being referenced. However, British lawmakers have previously warned of significant and widespread threats posed by Iran to the UK.

The government also summoned the Iranian Ambassador last month after an Iranian national and a British dual citizen were charged on suspicion of assisting Iranian intelligence services.