Embassy of Iran, London

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Embassy of Iran in London
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, London (2016) 09.JPG
LocationSouth Kensington, London
Address16 Prince's Gate, London, SW7 1PT
Coordinates51°30′06″N 0°10′20″W / 51.50153°N 0.17231°W / 51.50153; -0.17231Coordinates: 51°30′06″N 0°10′20″W / 51.50153°N 0.17231°W / 51.50153; -0.17231
AmbassadorHamid Baeidinejad

The Embassy of Iran in London is the diplomatic mission of Iran in the United Kingdom.[1] It is located in a terrace overlooking Hyde Park in South Kensington, Westminster, London, next to the embassy of Ethiopia.[1] Iran also maintains a Consular Section at 50 Kensington Court, South Kensington.[1] The embassy building, along with the Ethiopian Embassy and the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, is one of a group of Grade II listed stucco buildings.[2]

The embassy was the location of the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in which members of the Iranian-Arab nationalist group the Democratic Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of Arabistan seized the building for several days before being overrun by the SAS.[3] The embassy was severely damaged during the siege and did not re-open until 1993.[3]

Following the 2011 attack on the British Embassy in Iran, the British government expelled all Iranian embassy staff and closed the embassy in protest, alleging government support for the attack.[4] Between 2011 and 2014, Iranian interests in the UK were represented by the Omani Embassy.[citation needed] Anglo-Iranian relations have improved since the election of President Hassan Rouhani and the countries made plans to re-open the embassy.[5]

On February 20, 2014 the Embassy was restored and the two countries agreed to restart diplomatic relations.[6]

On March 9, 2018 four people from Khoddam Al-Mahdi were arrested after climbing onto the first-floor balcony of the Embassy and taking down the Iranian flag in an apparent protest against the government in Tehran due to the arrest of the Islamic scholar Hussein al-Shirazi in Qom three days earlier.[7][8]

Gallery[]

  • The embassy in 2008

  • The embassy as it appeared after the hostage crisis, 1980

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 14 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-11.
  2. ^ Historic England, "16 Prince's Gate (1265482)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 14 July 2016
  3. ^ a b "Iran and the hostage-takers". BBC News. 26 April 2000.
  4. ^ "Britain expels Iranian diplomats and closes Tehran embassy". 30 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Britain revives ties with Iran, two years after embassy attack". 11 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Britain Iran resume Diplomatic Ties as Iranian Embassy restored in London". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Four arrested after balcony protest at Iranian embassy in London". Reuters. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Iranian embassy STORMED by four men to 'TAKE DOWN NATIONAL FLAG' in PROTEST". 10 March 2018.
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