The measures taken after the British mission was attacked by protesters angry at fresh sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program show “that Tehran’s actions are leading to its increasing isolation in the world,” State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said.
Britain closed its embassy in Tehran and ordered Wednesday that Iran’s embassy in London be closed within 48 hours. Paris, Berlin and The Hague recalled their ambassadors from Tehran for consultations while Oslo temporarily closed its mission there.
“It’s very, very hard to get into the minds of the Iranians who attacked the British embassy yesterday or the minds of the government officials who tacitly condone this attack,” Toner said.
He said “it was an egregious violation of their Vienna Convention commitment” to protect diplomats.
The United States cut their diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic in 1980, following the hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran.
The United States and the European Union threatened “additional measures” against Iran on Monday over its suspect nuclear activities and reiterated that it must address international concerns.
