I went to bed last night after posting a piece on Moorhead C. Kennedy Jr.'s article on the US Embassy hostages and woke up this morning to news that an Iranian mob has attacked the British Embassy in Tehran. Like Yogi Berra says, it's dejavu all over again. Video below Via RT:
Dorsa Jabbari, of Al Jazeera reporting from Tehran, said that the men indicate "they would not leave until they get direct orders to do so from the Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hossein Khamenei." Excerpts below:
The British foreign ministry issued a statement saying it was "outraged" by the situation.
"It is utterly unacceptable and we condemn it," it said.
The Fars news agency also reported that six British embassy workers were freed by Iranian security forces and turned over to UK government representatives.
[...]
Our correspondent said that the police and various ministries had prior knowledge of the protest, which was organised by the student arm of the Basij armed group.
"Any such action of this could scale can never be independent in the Islamic Republic. These gatherings are always approved by higher officials," said Jabbari.
[...]
Iran's foreign ministry issued a statement saying it regrets the attack against the embassy, and that Tehran is committed to the safety of diplomats.
It's not like this has not happened before.
In 1979, a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian Revolution. US hostages endured 444 days of captivity until their release on January 20, 1981.
Not to make light of that horrible experience by our diplomats, but the Russians way back had to bury their whole diplomatic staff.
In 1829, an Iranian mob stormed and destroyed the Russian embassy and decapitated the Russian ambassador, Alexander Griboyedov. He was Russia's ambassador to Qajar Persia, where he was massacred along with the whole embassy by the angry local mob. According to this entry in Wikipedia, the Russian government demanded severe punishment of those responsible. In fear, the court of Shah Fath Ali Shah sent the Shah's grandson Khosrow Mirza to Saint Petersburg, where he gave the Shah diamond to the Russian Tsar as a present. In 1914, the Shah diamond came to the Kremlin Diamond Fund, where it is exhibited as one of Seven Historical Gems.
In 1979, a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian Revolution. US hostages endured 444 days of captivity until their release on January 20, 1981.
Not to make light of that horrible experience by our diplomats, but the Russians way back had to bury their whole diplomatic staff.
In 1829, an Iranian mob stormed and destroyed the Russian embassy and decapitated the Russian ambassador, Alexander Griboyedov. He was Russia's ambassador to Qajar Persia, where he was massacred along with the whole embassy by the angry local mob. According to this entry in Wikipedia, the Russian government demanded severe punishment of those responsible. In fear, the court of Shah Fath Ali Shah sent the Shah's grandson Khosrow Mirza to Saint Petersburg, where he gave the Shah diamond to the Russian Tsar as a present. In 1914, the Shah diamond came to the Kremlin Diamond Fund, where it is exhibited as one of Seven Historical Gems.
1 comment:
one of the scary realities of this job/life.
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