Foreign Office protests after Khamenei singles out 'evil Britain' | World news | guardian.co.uk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/19/khamemei-iran-protests-diplomat

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Foreign Office protests after Khamenei singles out 'evil Britain'

Ambassador called in over Iranian supreme leader's warning that Britain is the most evil of foreign powers

 

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei giving his Friday prayer sermon at Tehran University. Photograph: Reuters TV/REUTERS

Iran's ambassador to London was summoned to the Foreign Office this morning after the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, singled out Britain as Iran's foremost enemy. In his speech during Friday prayers, Khamenei played on the historic suspicions many Iranians have of Britain by hinting at its involvement in the demonstrations and describing it as "the most evil" of foreign powers.

He held up the Westminster MPs expenses scandal as a prime example of the corruption which he said was rife in many western countries.

Then he unleashed a thunderbolt – a warning not to be wooed by foreign enemies.

Western countries were "hungry wolves ambushing us and removing the diplomatic cover from their faces. Do not neglect these people," he warned.

"The outstanding diplomats of some western countries who have talked to us with diplomatic courtesy up to now, have, during the past few days, taken the masquerade away from their faces and are showing their true image.

"They are showing their true enmity towards the Iranian Islamic state and the most evil of them is the British government."