Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 2 / Trend M. Moezzi/
Trade between Iran and Great Britain has dropped dramatically over the last two to three years, Iran's customs chief has announced, according to ISNA.
Iran imports some oil-related goods from Britain and following increasing tensions between the two countries, Iranian industry has sought other markets, Abbas Memar Nejad, Iran's customs administration director told ISNA. Trade levels are so low between the two countries that even severing them won't have an effect on Iran's economy, he added.
Iran and Great Britain suspended diplomatic relations after storming British Embassy in Tehran on Nov.29
On Tuesday, a group of protesters broke away from a crowd of a few hundred outside the main British embassy compound in Tehran, scaled the gates, broke the locks and went inside.
The group pulled down the British flag, burned it and put up the Iranian flag instead. Some took a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth.
Police appeared to have cleared the demonstrators from the front of the main embassy compound, but later clashed with protesters and fired tear gas to try to disperse them. Protesters nevertheless entered the compound a second time, before once again leaving.
The U.N. Security Council, Russia, China, the U.S. and some other countries condemned the attacks 'in the strongest terms'. U.S. President Barack Obama called on Iran to hold those responsible to account. The British government was not available to comment on the reported withdrawal of embassy staff from Iran.
The UK closed its embassy in Tehran and requested that Iran calls back its diplomats from the United Kingdom.