IRAN: Iran's ambassador in London has returned home amid simmering tensions over Britain's arrest of a former Iranian diplomat, made worse yesterday by a drive-by shooting at the British embassy building in Tehran.
British and Iranian officials said diplomatic ties had not been downgraded, although the Tehran government's envoy had gone back to Iran.
Relations have been strained by the case of Hadi Soleimanpour, a former Iranian ambassador arrested in Britain at Argentina's request in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires.
Iran says the arrest is politically motivated and has threatened "strong action". Britain denies the charge and says its courts are independent of politics.
Adding to the charged atmosphere, gunshots fired from a passing motorbike hit the British embassy in Tehran, causing no injuries but prompting the mission to shut temporarily.
Analysts say Iran may be wary of downgrading ties with Britain in case that prompted a response from other EU members as Iran faces mounting international pressure for tougher inspections of its nuclear programme.
EU diplomats in Tehran said they were trying to defuse tensions in their contacts with Iranian officials.
Iran said it was investigating the embassy shooting, which it called an "irresponsible act".
"This was a serious incident. Six shots were fired at the embassy building. Several of them entered offices on the second floor," Britain's ambassador in Tehran, Mr Richard Dalton, said.
Other reports said five shots were fired. - (Reuters)