The Iranian Parliament has approved a motion to downgrade diplomatic relations with Britain.
Iranian media report that the motion was passed by a vote of 162 to five, with six abstentions.
The decision comes after Britain beefed up its sanctions against Iran. On Monday, the British treasury chief announced a boycott on doing business with all Iranian banks, including the Central Bank.
The British said the sanctions are in reaction to the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear program and its possible military dimensions.
The Iranian Parliament’s motion orders the Foreign Ministry to reduce its diplomatic relations with Britain to the level of charge d’affaires within two weeks, and also to limit all economic and trade relations.
British sanctions against Iran drew the criticism of Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, who accused Britain of being a “main partner in all conspiracies against Iran.”
