Iran to expel Britain ambassador, Dominick Chilcott, over Western sanctions

TEHRAN, Iran (Nov. 27) – Reacting to the new era of Western sanctions forced on Iran’s nuclear program; country’s parliament has passed a bill with significant majority on Sunday to oust Britain's ambassador.

A majority of 179 voted for reducing diplomatic relations by at least expelling the ambassador (AFP/File, Atta Kenare)

As much as 179 votes came in favor of the bill, four voted against it while eleven were abstained from voting. Now the bill will be presented to Iran's Guardians Council for approval before it takes effect.

The bill intends to decrease diplomatic relations to the more junior level of charge d'affaires within 2 weeks and cutting economic ties with Britain to a minimum, according to a live broadcast on state radio. The lawmakers in the parliament also hinted the likelihood of dealing "other countries that behave in a manner similar to that of Britain."

In response to the parliamentary bill was presented on Wednesday, Britain said "it would be regrettable" if its envoy to Tehran, Dominick Chilcott, were to be expelled. Chilcott took the charge of this post in October this year.

In coordination with U.S. and Canada; Britain ceased all of its financial contacts with Tehran on November 14, a week after the report from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) strongly suggesting Tehran was researching nuclear weapons.

Iran has dismissed the UN report and insists its nuclear programme is for entirely peaceful purposes.

Britain and Canada have embassies in Tehran. The United States does not, having closed it after Islamic students took its diplomats hostage in 1979 following Iran's revolution.


UPDATES: Iran's Guardian Council approves the bill on Monday .... Read HERE.