TEHRAN -- Hundreds of university students have rallied outside the British embassy here to protest the country’s interventionist role in recent riots across Iran.
The protesters from various universities in Tehran, alongside a large number of ordinary people, assembled in front of the embassy on Thursday morning to voice their strong opposition to the role and interference of the British government and its affiliated media in Iran’s recent riots.
They condemned the British government’s support for the media that back rabble-rousing and riots in Iran, such as the London-based BBC Persian and Iran International.
Holding placards in protest at the anti-Iran policies of arrogant countries, especially Britain, they condemned London’s hostile approach towards Tehran, chanting “Death to the UK”, “Death to the USA,” and “Death to traitors.”
In their slogans, the students also pledged to protect Iran’s territorial integrity, saying the recent riots and a terrorist attack in the holy shrine of Shah Cheragh in Shiraz on Wednesday were perpetrated with separatist motives.
“Although the UK has no longer the ability to directly attack and interfere in the Islamic Iran, it still expresses its animosity against the Iranian nation through other methods. Today, it is no longer a secret to anyone that the Persian-language media in London have become a circle of those who wish for the disintegration and humiliation of our dear country” and seek nothing but despair and frustration for the Iranian people, they said in a statement.
“Definitely, the recent riots and the leadership of this new sedition originate from your country, and the noble nation of the Islamic Iran will not remain indifferent to the issue,” the statement added.
Iranians have held protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian who died at a hospital in Tehran three days after she collapsed in police custody last month.
Iran mourned her death, but some extremist elements derailed the protests and incited violence against security forces. Western-backed media outlets have also encouraged violence.

German Envoy Summoned

Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, summoned on Thursday German Ambassador to Tehran Hans-Udo Muzel over “meddlesome” remarks by a number of his country’s officials about the recent riots in Iran.
In his meeting with the German envoy, Bagheri Kani described as “unacceptable and irresponsible” the stance taken by German officials, which provoked riots and caused violation of law in Iran.
Stressing that the Islamic Republic is committed to observing human rights, including the right to peaceful protests, and considers the illegal interference of some Western countries as a catalyst for violent riots, Bagheri Kani said, “Violence and lawlessness are not only in conflict with the right to peaceful assembly, but also disrupt public order and the security of individual citizens.”
The Iranian diplomat also said certain European countries have turned into a safe haven for terrorist groups and media outlets that “systematically” produce content provoking terror and riots across Iran.
Referring to Wednesday’s terror attack in Shiraz, Bagheri Kani said such terrorist acts are in continuation of “violent and anarchic” movements that the U.S. and some European countries have previously thrown their weight behind.
The Iranian diplomat stressed that the Islamic Republic would never tolerate any kind of foreign interference in its internal affairs, or any support for acts of terror and violence.
Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called for European Union entry bans and asset freezes against those responsible for what she claimed as “brutal repression” of protesters in Iran.
The German FM also said “there can be no ‘business as usual’ in bilateral relations” with Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of violating the rights of its citizens.