Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that it has no intention of withdrawing its diplomats from Iran.
The Ria Novosti News Agency cites a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Minister who said yesterday that there have been no attacks against Russian representatives in Iran.
Regarding the recent attack on the British embassy in Tehran, Alexander Lukashevich called on Iranian authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter to avoid similar incidents in the future, adding: “We have good relations with Iran based on cooperation, shared history and large collaborative projects; therefore, withdrawing diplomats is not on our agenda.”
On Tuesday, angry protesters demonstrated in front of the British Embassy in Tehran to protest British policies against Iran. The demonstrations led to an attack on the embassy, prompting the British government to announce that it would remove its diplomats from Iran.
Many countries have condemned the attack. Germany, France and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors, and Italy said it is considering the complete closure of its embassy in Tehran.
The spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry went on to add that the recent International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran was “untimely and weakly grounded.”
The IAEA report, which has triggered a series of new unilateral sanctions against Iran, claims that Iran’s nuclear program may possibly have a military dimension.
Lukashevich said: “The one-sided sanctions against Iran, which have been introduced by several countries, are unacceptable, to say nothing of the threats to use force against Iran. Such measures can only hamper the new talks between the group of six mediators and Iran.”
Britain responded to the IAEA report by announcing a complete boycott of Iran’s financial sector, including the Central Bank.
Israel responded to the report by making overtures about a military attack against Iran.
Lukashevich emphasized that Russia is opposed to any provocation of conflict on issues regarding Iran and warned of grave consequences from such provocations.
