Iran plane crash: Britain condemns Tehran’s arrest of UK ambassador

Iran – Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the arrest of the UK ambassador to Iran as a “flagrant violation of international law”.

Rob Macaire was detained after attending a vigil for those who died when a passenger plane was shot down on Wednesday.

He left when it turned into a protest before being arrested and accused of helping to organise the demonstrations.

Mr Macaire denied taking part in the protests in a tweet on Sunday.

He said he was attending the vigil because it was “normal to want to pay respects”, adding that some of the victims were British.

The ambassador added: “Arresting diplomats is, of course, illegal, in all countries.”

In a statement, Mr Raab said: “The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law.

“The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.”

Mr Macaire was arrested and held for three hours when he stopped at a barbershop for a haircut on his way back to the UK embassy.

Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, diplomats cannot be detained. The Foreign Office is to demand a full explanation.

The Iranian Etemad newspaper shared a picture of the ambassador on Twitter after the Tasnim news agency reported his arrest. Britain condemns Iran’s arrest of UK ambassador.

Iran has said Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down due to “human error” and there were demonstrations in Tehran and other cities on Saturday as people gathered to commemorate those who died.

Earlier, the UK prime minister said Iran’s admission was an “important first step” and called for an investigation into the “tragic accident”.

Iran initially denied responsibility for Wednesday’s crash – which killed 176 people, including four Britons.

But on Saturday, President Hassan Rouhani admitted Iranian military had “unintentionally” shot down the passenger plane after mistaking it for a cruise missile when it turned towards a sensitive military site.

President Rouhani said the missile strike was an “unforgivable mistake”.

The crash came just hours after Iran carried out missile strikes on two airbases housing US forces in Iraq.

Mr Johnson said: “This will be an incredibly difficult time for all those families who lost loved ones in such tragic circumstances.

“We will do everything we can to support the families of the four British victims and ensure they get the answers and closure they deserve.”

He said the investigation into the crash should be “comprehensive, transparent and independent”, adding that he would work with other affected nations, including Canada and Ukraine.

The prime minister said it was “vital that all leaders now pursue a diplomatic way forward” in the conflict in the region.

“This tragic accident only reinforces the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region. We can all see very clearly that further conflict will only lead to more loss and tragedy,” he said.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Raab said the missile strike on the Ukrainian plane marked “a moment where the regime in Tehran is at a crossroads”.

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“It is time for them to come to the negotiating table to resolve all of Iran’s issues of international concern,” he said.

Mr Raab said Iran “must stop pursuing a nuclear weapon, end its support for terrorism, and release the foreign nationals and dual nationals it cruelly holds”.

The attack on the airliner came amid heightened tensions in the region following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on 3 January.

Tehran vowed revenge after he died in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

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