Iran Summons UK Ambassador Over Alleged Attack on Iranian Journalist

The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported on Thursday that following repeated false accusations by British authorities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran's Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador to convey Iran's official protest. The ministry also urged the British government to end its harboring and support of terrorist networks hostile to Iran and to reconsider its policies toward the country.

Two Romanian nationals were sentenced to prison terms of 12 and 8 years respectively after being convicted of stabbing Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his London residence in 2024. The attack was deemed to have been carried out "on behalf of" Iran.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge stated that the evidence "unequivocally" indicated that the assault on Zeraati, a presenter for the Persian-language Iran International channel, was executed on behalf of the Iranian government.

Following the verdict, British Security Minister Angela Eagle described the attack as a "heinous assault" conducted "in the name of Iran," adding that "we will continue to hold the regime accountable."

IRNA further reported that Tehran informed the British ambassador that Britain's ongoing sheltering of terrorist networks, which are strategically funded and supported by the so-called racist and fabricated Israeli entity, and whose primary role is to incite violence and terrorism, constitutes a violation of the British government's international legal obligations to refrain from supporting terrorism and must cease immediately.

In 2022, Tehran designated the privately owned Iran International channel, based in West London, as a "terrorist organization," alongside the Persian-language BBC channel.