TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the UK’s Accusations Bureau on Monday in response to the arrest of “suspecting” Iranian citizens, denounced the allegations as “a contrast of politically motivating.”
The diplomatic responsibilities follow the recent accusations by British authorities against three Iranians under the so-called national security law. This was rejected as part of a broader campaign by which Tehran puts pressure on Iran.
During the meeting, Shahram Qazizadeh, director of the Foreign Ministry’s Third Western Europe Division, requested an official explanation from the British government regarding the “illegal detention” of Iranian citizens and refusal to grant timely consular access.
He emphasized that arrests made without evidence and in violation of international norms would include the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations “in violation of the accepted principles of international law and human rights.”
“The UK government is entirely responsible for the unfavourable consequences of such actions that appear to be driven by political motivations to put pressure on Iran,” Kazizadeh said, adding that London is intentionally holding information from Iran’s diplomatic channels.
The diplomatic clash follows British authorities prosecuting three Iranian citizens.
The claims surrounded as links to foreign intelligence reporting agencies, despite lack of concrete evidence, are centered around Iran and raise questions about the motivation behind the UK allegations.
A man who had sought asylum in the UK between 2016 and 2022 appeared in Westminster Magistrate’s court on May 17th and faced accusations of planning “serious violence.”
Tehran consistently rejected these allegations, accusing them of unfounded, politically motivated charges aimed at undermining Iran’s global reputation.
Later on Monday, the UK Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s Ambassador Ali Musabi, claiming that the accusations against the three Iranians were part of efforts to “protect national security.”
A British spokesman argued that “Iran must be held responsible for its actions,” but has not been publicly disclosed to demonstrate the allegations.
Earlier this month, the UK’s “counterterrorism operations” led to the arrest of five Iranians, who were later released without being charged.
In response, the Iranian Embassy in London rejected the issue on Saturday as “many adverts about nothing.” This dismissed Tehran’s skepticism over British terrorism claims that Iranian officials claim to be weaponized to discredit Islamic Republicans.
The arrests coincided with an increasing diplomatic complexity between Iran and Western countries, particularly as indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington have been underway since last month.
Some analysts have suggested that the UK’s actions are attributable to frustration over its decline in diplomatic issues, urging British authorities to put pressure on them as a way to influence negotiations.
Meanwhile, Iran has consistently warned against foreign interference in domestic affairs, particularly as European power continues to take politically motivated and counter-effective measures.