Caption: British Ambassador in Iran says he was arrested half an hour after leaving Ukraine crash vigil and wasn\’t taking part in protests Credit: PA/GETTY Britain’s ambassador to Iran has denied taking part in protests after being arrested on his way home from what he thought was a peaceful vigil. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called Rob Macaire’s arrest a ‘flagrant violation of international law’ and warned Iran it was in danger of becoming an international ‘pariah’. Mr Macaire says he was at a vigil for the 176 people who died after Iranian forces shot down a Ukrainian airliner, which they claim was an accident. The event soon turned into an anti-government protest, following a wave of demonstrations that broke out after Iran admitted responsibility for downing the jet in a missile strike. This morning the ambassador insisted he left after 5 minutes when chanting started and did not take part in any protests. Advertisement Advertisement He said he was detained half an hour after leaving the area, and was eventually released after more than an hour in custody. Bodies are recovered after 176 civilians, a third of whom were Canadian, died when Iran shot down a passenger jet (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Mr Macaire tweeted: ‘Went to an event advertised as a vigil for victims of #PS752 tragedy. Normal to want to pay respects- some of victims were British.’ ‘Arresting diplomats is of course illegal, in all countries.’ After the news broke, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted that Mr Macaire ‘wasn’t detained but arrested as an unknown foreigner in an illegal gathering’. Mr Araghchi said when police informed him that a man was arrested who claimed to be the British ambassador, he did not believe them. But he said once he spoke to Mr Macaire by phone he realised it was him, and that the ambassador was freed 15 minutes later. Iran’s government has a history of brutally suppressing demonstrations and has reportedly tortured and killed protesters in prison. Qasem Soleimani was considered a war criminal by Western states but many in Iran are furious at his assassination (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Iranians protest over the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran (EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH) According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency he was one of several arrested outside Amir Kabir University on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing ‘radical actions’. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the foreign secretary said: ‘The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. ‘It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.’ Tensions in the region had just started easing following Iran’s admission of responsibility for killing the passengers. Writi
British ambassador to Iran denies taking part in protests saying his arrest is ‘illegal’
Caption: British Ambassador in Iran says he was arrested half an hour after leaving Ukraine crash vigil and wasn\’t taking part in protests Credit: PA/GETTY Britain’s ambassador to Iran has denied taking part in protests after being arrested on his way home from what he thought was a peaceful vigil. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called Rob Macaire’s arrest a ‘flagrant violation of international law’ and warned Iran it was in danger of becoming an international ‘pariah’. Mr Macaire says he was at a vigil for the 176 people who died after Iranian forces shot down a Ukrainian airliner, which they claim was an accident. The event soon turned into an anti-government protest, following a wave of demonstrations that broke out after Iran admitted responsibility for downing the jet in a missile strike. This morning the ambassador insisted he left after 5 minutes when chanting started and did not take part in any protests. Advertisement Advertisement He said he was detained half an hour after leaving the area, and was eventually released after more than an hour in custody. Bodies are recovered after 176 civilians, a third of whom were Canadian, died when Iran shot down a passenger jet (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Mr Macaire tweeted: ‘Went to an event advertised as a vigil for victims of #PS752 tragedy. Normal to want to pay respects- some of victims were British.’ ‘Arresting diplomats is of course illegal, in all countries.’ After the news broke, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi tweeted that Mr Macaire ‘wasn’t detained but arrested as an unknown foreigner in an illegal gathering’. Mr Araghchi said when police informed him that a man was arrested who claimed to be the British ambassador, he did not believe them. But he said once he spoke to Mr Macaire by phone he realised it was him, and that the ambassador was freed 15 minutes later. Iran’s government has a history of brutally suppressing demonstrations and has reportedly tortured and killed protesters in prison. Qasem Soleimani was considered a war criminal by Western states but many in Iran are furious at his assassination (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Iranians protest over the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 in front of the Amir Kabir University in Tehran (EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH) According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency he was one of several arrested outside Amir Kabir University on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing ‘radical actions’. Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the foreign secretary said: ‘The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. ‘It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.’ Tensions in the region had just started easing following Iran’s admission of responsibility for killing the passengers. Writi
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