Iranian MPs approve bill to reduce British diplomatic ties with Tehran

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Source: The Guardian

The Iranian parliament has retaliated against western economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic by approving a bill to reduce Tehran's diplomatic ties with Britain.

Iranian MPs on Wednesday voted by an overwhelming majority to downgrade Iran's relations with London from an ambassadorial level to that of chargé d'affaires.

The move has come two days after the US and Britain targeted Iranian financial sectors with new punitive measures over the Islamic regime's disputed nuclear programme.

The chancellor, George Osborne, said on Monday Britain would sever all ties with Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), to limit the regime's access to international funding for its nuclear activities. The US said it would sanction Iran's oil and petrochemical industry as well as companies affiliated to the elite revolutionary guards or those involved in its nuclear programme.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/23/iranian-britain-diplomatic-ties-cut