UK Kicks Out Iranian Diplomats

The UK will expel two Iranian diplomats, in retaliation for Tehran’s own banishment of two British diplomats yesterday, the BBC reports. Gordon Brown said that he was “disappointed that Iran has placed us in this position.” He defended the UK diplomats, saying the accusation that they were “involved in activities incompatible with their status” was “absolutely without foundation.”

He added that the election results should reflect the will of the people. “The onus is on Iran,” he said, “to show the Iranian people that recent elections have been credible, and that the repression…will cease.” Opposition leader David Cameron supported Brown. “The expulsion of diplomats by Iran is clearly not acceptable,” he said, “and the British government was absolutely right to respond.” (More Britain stories.)