British Foreign Minister William Hague has warned Tehran it faces ‘serious consequences’ over an attack on the British embassy in the Iranian capital.
He said the embassy staff were put at risk and ‘extensive damage’ was caused when hundreds of protesters surged on two compounds in the capital.
"Iran has committed a grave breach of the Vienna Convention, which demands protection of diplomats and diplomatic premises,"" the minister said.
He added: "We hold the Iranian government responsible for its failure to take adequate measures to protect our embassy as it is required to do."
He called the Iranian Foreign Minister to demand "immediate steps" to ensure the safety of embassy staff and said he had received an apology.
Tuesday's attack involved students who threw petrol bombs and stones while chanting ‘death to England’. They also tore down a picture of the Queen and burned the flags of Britain and Israel.
The violence erupted two days after Iran decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with Britain over its support of tough new sanctions over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.