Canada shuts embassy, severs diplomatic relations, orders Iranian diplomats to leave
(8 Sep 2012) Canada has shut its embassy in Tehran, severed diplomatic relations and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave, accusing the Islamic Republic of being the most significant threat to world peace.
The surprise action reinforces the Conservative government's close ties with Israel but also removes some of Washington's eyes and ears inside the Iranian capital.
The move also underscores the widening gaps between Western countries' attempts to isolate and punish Iran over its nuclear programme and Tehran's efforts to forge closer ties with energy-hungry Asian trading partners such as India and Pakistan to counter Western sanctions.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that the embassy in Tehran would close immediately and Iranian diplomats in Canada have been given five days to leave.
A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, called Canada's decision "hasty and extreme" and said that Iran would soon respond, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Baird said Canada was officially designating Iran a state sponsor of "terrorism" and gave a long list of reasons for Canada's decision, including Tehran's support for Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad in that country's civil war.
Baird said he also was worried about the safety of diplomats in Tehran following attacks on the British embassy there.
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The surprise action reinforces the Conservative government's close ties with Israel but also removes some of Washington's eyes and ears inside the Iranian capital.
The move also underscores the widening gaps between Western countries' attempts to isolate and punish Iran over its nuclear programme and Tehran's efforts to forge closer ties with energy-hungry Asian trading partners such as India and Pakistan to counter Western sanctions.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that the embassy in Tehran would close immediately and Iranian diplomats in Canada have been given five days to leave.
A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Ramin Mehmanparast, called Canada's decision "hasty and extreme" and said that Iran would soon respond, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Baird said Canada was officially designating Iran a state sponsor of "terrorism" and gave a long list of reasons for Canada's decision, including Tehran's support for Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad in that country's civil war.
Baird said he also was worried about the safety of diplomats in Tehran following attacks on the British embassy there.
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You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
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