UK Summons Iranian Envoy Over Iran International Assassination Plot

The UK foreign secretary summoned Iran's chargé d’affaires Friday, warning that Iran's "malign" activities will not be tolerated on UK soil or in the Middle East.

David Cameron's action followed revelations that the Iranian regime planned to assassinate two Iran International news presenters, Sima Sabet and Fardad Farahzad, in London last year.

The recently appointed foreign secretary said he wanted "to make it clear that these threats will not be tolerated", according to the Telegraph.

Over 15 Iranian threats and plots to kill British or UK-based individuals have been reported since the beginning of last year, according to government officials.

On Friday, England's Central Criminal Court sentenced a man arrested for gathering information about Iran International's London headquarters to three and a half years in prison.

Iran must be sent “an incredibly clear message that this escalation will not be tolerated,” Cameron said, citing “the threat of Iran” as one of five significant “crises” causing “extraordinarily difficult times for the world”, in addition to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, terrorism, and climate change.

The UK's tough stance follows a similar move by the US on Friday. In a clear statement, the White House stated that Iran is deeply involved in planning drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea by providing intelligence to the Houthis which have blockaded the major trade route in allegiance with fellow Iran-backed militia, Hamas, in its war against Israel.