Embassy of Iran, London

{{Short description|Diplomatic mission of Iran in the United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox diplomatic mission

|name = Embassy of Iran in London

|location = South Kensington, London

|image = Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, London (2016) 09.JPG

|address = 16 Prince's Gate, London, SW7 1PT

|coordinates = {{WikidataCoord|Q15378797|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|display=inline,title}}

|ambassador = Ali Mousavi

}}

The Embassy of Iran in London is the diplomatic mission of Iran in the United Kingdom. It is located in a terrace overlooking Hyde Park in South Kensington, Westminster, London, next to the Embassy of Ethiopia.{{cite news |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263519/LDL_December_2013.pdf |title=The London Diplomatic List |date=14 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211155353/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263519/LDL_December_2013.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-11}} Iran also maintains a Consular Section at 50 Kensington Court, South Kensington. 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.{{NHLE|num=1265482|desc=16 Prince's Gate |access-date=14 July 2016|mode=cs2}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/iranian_embassy_siege/720640.stm |title=Iran and the hostage-takers |date=26 April 2000 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-date=15 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215175008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2000/iranian_embassy_siege/720640.stm |url-status=live }} The embassy was severely damaged during the siege and did not re-open until 1993.

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/30/britain-expels-iranian-diplomats-tehran |title=Britain expels Iranian diplomats and closes Tehran embassy |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134332/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/30/britain-expels-iranian-diplomats-tehran |url-status=live }} Between 2011 and 2014, Iranian interests in the UK were represented by the Omani Embassy.{{cite news |url=http://www.tradearabia.com/news/MISC_219731.html |title=Oman 'looking after Iran interests in UK' |publisher=Trade Arabia |date=28 June 2012 |access-date=25 October 2022 |archive-date=25 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025094721/http://www.tradearabia.com/news/MISC_219731.html |url-status=live }} Anglo-Iranian relations have improved since the election of President Hassan Rouhani and the countries made plans to re-open the embassy.{{cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Britain-revives-ties-with-Iran-two-years-after-embassy-attack-331355 |title=Britain revives ties with Iran, two years after embassy attack |date=11 November 2013 |access-date=7 December 2013 |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023132342/https://www.jpost.com///international/britain-revives-ties-with-iran-two-years-after-embassy-attack-331355 |url-status=live }}

On February 20, 2014, the Embassy was restored and the two countries agreed to restart diplomatic relations.{{cite web |title=Britain Iran resume Diplomatic Ties as Iranian Embassy restored in London |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/02/britain-iran-resume-diplomatic-ties-as-iranian-embassy-restored-in-london/ |work=IANS |publisher=news.biharprabha.com |access-date=21 February 2014 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134411/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/02/britain-iran-resume-diplomatic-ties-as-iranian-embassy-restored-in-london/ |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite news |title=Four arrested after balcony protest at Iranian embassy in London |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-iran-idUSKCN1GL2TS |work=Reuters |date=9 March 2018 |access-date=10 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709233209/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-iran-idUSKCN1GL2TS |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/929752/iranian-embassy-protest-arrest-national-flag |title=Iranian embassy STORMED by four men to 'TAKE DOWN NATIONAL FLAG' in PROTEST |date=10 March 2018 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709233209/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/929752/iranian-embassy-protest-arrest-national-flag |url-status=live }}

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.{{cite news |title=Protesters and police clash outside Iranian embassy in London amid outcry over Mahsa Amini's death |url=https://news.sky.com/story/protesters-and-police-clash-outside-iranian-embassy-in-london-amid-outcry-over-mahsa-aminis-death-12705376 |work=Sky News |date=25 September 2022 |access-date=7 January 2023 |archive-date=7 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107183114/https://news.sky.com/story/protesters-and-police-clash-outside-iranian-embassy-in-london-amid-outcry-over-mahsa-aminis-death-12705376 |url-status=live }}