Iran claims British troops attack its outpost in southern Iraq

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Mar. 29 – Iran claimed on Thursday that its consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra had come under attack from British forces, escalating London-Tehran tensions over last week’s capture of 15 British sailors and navy personnel by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Iran-Iraq waterway.
Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Mar. 29 – Iran claimed on Thursday that its consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra had come under attack from British forces, escalating London-Tehran tensions over last week’s capture of 15 British sailors and navy personnel by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Iran-Iraq waterway.

The state-run news agency ISNA said that earlier in the day British troops surrounded the consulate compound and began to fire live rounds.

Mohammad-Reza Nasser-Baghban, Iran’s Consul-General in Basra, was quoted as saying that at approximately 10 a.m. local time British troops arrived near the compound and within 20 minutes began to shoot in various directions.

Baghban said that the incident was related to the capture of the British sailors by Iranian forces, adding that Britain was trying to “intimidate” and “anger” Iran.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence has rejected the claim.