Iran protests against alleged British shooting in Iraq

Iran has sent a formal letter to the British Embassy in Tehran protesting against an alleged incident in which British troops surrounded an Iranian consulate in Iraq and fired shots into the air, it was reported today.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said today on its website that Iran reportedly asked Britain, in the note, to prevent such actions in the future and to respect international laws regarding diplomatic buildings, according to IRNA.

Britain has denied any aggressive action, saying the shooting was an exchange of gunfire after British troops on a foot patrol near the Iranian consulate were ambushed.

The British Foreign Office had no immediate comment.

The shooting incident allegedly occurred in Basra on Thursday and was reported by Iranian Consul-General Mohammed Ridha Nasir Baghban, who said British forces had engaged in a “provocative act”.

The IRNA report did not clearly state when the letter was delivered.