LONDON – Iranian authorities briefly detained Britain’s ambassador inTehran on Saturday, according to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, after hewas reportedly arrested during protests against the regime.
“The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is aflagrant violation of international law,” Raab said in a statement afterthe detention of Rob Macaire.
The minister warned Iran that it was “at a cross-roads moment”, and had tochoose between “its march towards pariah status” or “take steps tode-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.”
Macaire was arrested for allegedly “inciting” protesters in Tehran angry atthe military’s accidental downing of a Ukranian passenger jet, killing 176people, most of them Iranian citizens, according to the Daily Mail.
He was released after around an hour, it added.
President Hassan Rouhani said a military probe into the tragedy had found“missiles fired due to human error” brought down the Boeing 737, calling itan “unforgivable mistake”.
The admission was an “important first step”, Prime Minister Boris Johnsonsaid earlier Saturday.
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“We will do everything we can to support the families of the four Britishvictims and ensure they get the answers and closure they deserve,” he saidin a statement issued by his Downing Street office.
Johnson added that Britain would work closely with Canada, Ukraine andother international partners to ensure “a comprehensive, transparent andindependent international investigation and the repatriation of those whodied.”
“This tragic accident only reinforces the importance of de-escalatingtensions in the region,” he said.
“It is vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward.”-APP/AFP
