'Iran to react according to UK deeds' - Foreign Ministry official

In the wake of the recent tension arising between Iran and Britain, an Iranian Foreign Ministry official insists that Tehran will adopt retaliatory measures proportional to London's deeds, Press TV reported.

Iran will maintain its own dignified position and will adjust its policies according to UK's conduct, IRIB quoted Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriate Affairs Hassan Qashqavi as saying in an interview with Iran's Arabic-language news channel Al-Alam on Sunday.

He noted that the legislation recently approved overwhelmingly by Iran's Majlis was intended to downgrade ties with Britain to a minimum level.

On November 27, the Majlis passed a bill, which was also affirmed by the Guardian Council the next day, to downgrade relations with Britain to the level of charge d'affaires and limit all economic and cultural collaboration with London to the minimum level.

Qashqavi stated that Iran had meager ties with Britain during recent years and noted that the total value of economic dealings between the two countries did not surpass 117 million dollars over the past eight months.

He emphasized that Iran attaches significance to consular support for Iranian nationals in Britain and said, "Our intent was not to sever all ties but merely to downgrade relations."

The official pointed to the recent protest rallies by angry Iranian students outside the British Embassy in Tehran and said the move came in response to Britain's previous actions.

During student protests on November 29, some protesters pulled down the UK flag and demanded the speedy expulsion of the British envoy.

Following the rallies, Iran's Foreign Ministry expressed regret in a statement on Tuesday over the "unacceptable actions" of a number of protesters during the demonstration in front of the embassy.

In a hasty reaction to student protests, UK withdrew its diplomatic staff from Iran and gave a 48-hour deadline to Iran's diplomatic mission in London to leave Britain.