Embassy of Iran, London

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]

Embassy of Iran in London
LocationSouth Kensington, London
Address16 Prince's Gate, London, SW7 1PT
Coordinates51°30′5.5″N 0°10′20.4″W
AmbassadorMohsen Baharvand

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.[5] Anglo-Iranian relations have improved since the election of President Hassan Rouhani and the countries made plans to re-open the embassy.[6]

On February 20, 2014, the Embassy was restored and the two countries agreed to restart diplomatic relations.[7]

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.[8][9]

On September 25, 2022, there were angry protests outside the Embassy, mostly by the Iranian diaspora in the United Kingdom, following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody on September 16. Demonstrators waved the pre-1979 Iranian flag and chanted "Death to the Islamic Republic". Five Metropolitan Police officers were injured and twelve arrests were made.[10]

  • The embassy in 2008
    The embassy in 2008
  • The embassy as it appeared after the hostage crisis, 1980
    The embassy as it appeared after the hostage crisis, 1980

References
  1. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 14 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  2. Historic England, "16 Prince's Gate (1265482)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 14 July 2016
  3. "Iran and the hostage-takers". BBC News. 26 April 2000. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  4. "Britain expels Iranian diplomats and closes Tehran embassy". 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  5. "Oman 'looking after Iran interests in UK'". Trade Arabia. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. "Britain revives ties with Iran, two years after embassy attack". 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  7. "Britain Iran resume Diplomatic Ties as Iranian Embassy restored in London". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  8. "Four arrested after balcony protest at Iranian embassy in London". Reuters. 9 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. "Iranian embassy STORMED by four men to 'TAKE DOWN NATIONAL FLAG' in PROTEST". 10 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  10. "Protesters and police clash outside Iranian embassy in London amid outcry over Mahsa Amini's death". Sky News. 25 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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