Iran summons British envoy over 'baseless' accusations, sanctions

TEHRAN - The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned British Ambassador to Iran Simon Shercliff to strongly protest Britain's recent "baseless" accusations and "illegal" sanctions against Iran.

The British envoy was summoned by Director General of Western Europe at the Iranian Foreign Ministry Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, following "accusations by Britain's regime against the Islamic Republic of Iran", said a statement published on the ministry's website.

The statement did not specify the British accusations, but Shercliff was summoned after Britain on Monday imposed sanctions on a number of Iranian officials, including members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

London claimed that some of the Iranian officials had been "involved in threats to kill journalists on the British soil" while others were "part of international criminal gangs linked to Iran".

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier on Monday said he was concerned about tensions in the Middle East and urged Iran to de-escalate.

Sunak made the remarks in response to an attack that killed on Saturday three US service members in northeastern Jordan near Syria's border, which US President Joe Biden blamed on "Iran-backed groups".

Ahmadabadi also criticized "illegal" British sanctions imposed on Iran under "unreal pretexts", while strongly condemning British officials' "baseless and unfounded" accusations against Tehran.

He said the British government's bid to sour the atmosphere against Iran was another "unconstructive and destructive" measure that was doomed to failure.

The British ambassador, for his part, pledged to convey Iran's protest to London.