Britain summons Iranian ambassador over 'provocative remarks'
The British Foreign Office on Tuesday summoned Iran's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Seyed Ali Mousavi, over what it described as "provocative remarks" published by the Iranian embassy on its social media account.
The ministry said in a statement that British Secretary of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, summoned Mousavi to the ministry's building because of "unacceptable and provocative remarks" posted on the Iranian embassy's social media account.
She explained that Falconer assured Ambassador Mousavi that these actions and statements are "totally unacceptable," adding that the minister stressed the need for the Iranian embassy to immediately cease any communication that could be interpreted as "encouraging violence within Britain or internationally."
"The British government will continue to condemn the brutal and repressive Iranian regime for its harmful acts on British soil, its reckless attacks on our allies in the Gulf, and the violence it is practicing against its own people."
"The British government clearly reiterates that protecting national security remains its top priority and will take all necessary measures to protect the British people," he added.
The Iranian Embassy in London Launches the "Jean Feda" Campaign
On April 15, the Iranian embassy in London published aPersian-language mansh and verse on its official Telegram channel calling on Iranians living in the United Kingdom to join a campaign titled "Jan Feda" (Self-Sacrifice for the Fatherland), which included motivational phrases and verses calling on "the brave sons of Iran" to be ready to give their lives instead of handing over the homeland to the enemy, with a link to register on the consulate's website.
The post drew widespread criticism in Britain, with Tehran accused of trying to use British soil as a recruitment ground , warning that the campaign posed a threat to Britain's national security and that the use of diplomatic platforms for such calls went beyond world norms.
Trump: Americans Didn't Have Closer Friends Than Britons
US President Donald Trump said that "Americans have never had closer friends than the British", during his official reception of Britain's King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, at the White House.
Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, welcomed King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, on Tuesday on the White House lawn, with a wide-ranging ceremony that saw the highest level of protocol, media reported.
King Charles' visit to Washington comes amid political differences in relations between the United States and Britain, especially over Iran, and the British king is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress later today, the second speech by a British monarch to Congress after Queen Elizabeth II's speech in 1991.
Trump noted that the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence this year, and that Americans still cherish their British roots, adding that "Americans have never had closer friends than the British," and that relations between the two countries remain very strong.
The United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4, a federal holiday to mark the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and secession from Great Britain.