UK summons Iranian ambassador over ‘unacceptable’ social media comments

Iran’s new ambassador to the UK Ali Mousavi (left) with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. (Iran foreign ministry)

• British minister demands Iranian ​embassy must ‌cease "encouraging violence in the UK or internally"
• Iranian embassy's Telegram channel previously called on ‌Iranians in Britain to declare their willingness to sacrifice their lives ‌in defense of their country

LONDON: ​Britain said on Tuesday the Iranian ambassador to London had been summoned over what the government described as the Iranian embassy’s “unacceptable and inflammatory” comments on social media.
Britain’s minister for the Middle East, ‌Hamish Falconer, made ‌clear that the ​embassy “must ‌cease ⁠any ​form of communications ⁠that could be interpreted as encouraging violence in the UK or internationally,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Iranian officials in Tehran could not be immediately reached for ⁠comment on Britain’s move.
A ‌statement posted ‌by the Iranian embassy ​on its Telegram channel ‌earlier this month called on ‌Iranians in Britain to volunteer for a campaign to declare their willingness to sacrifice their lives in a war ‌in defense of their country.
The British government did not ⁠specify ⁠which of the embassy’s social media comments it was referring to. British lawmakers have warned of significant and wide-ranging threats posed by Iran to Britain.
The government also summoned the Iranian ambassador last month after an Iranian national and a British-Iranian dual national were charged ​on suspicion of ​helping Iran’s intelligence services.