Today's attack by Iranian students on the British embassy in Tehran is the most recent in a long history of attacks on foreign diplomatic missions in the Iranian capital. Reuters reported the attack damaged the embassy buildings and the ambassador's official residence.
Here are other attacks on foreign missions in Iran:
2009 -- Pakistan
The Pakistani embassy in Tehran was overrun by protestors after the slaying of a worker at the Iranian consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan. Associated Press reported no injuries and order was quickly restored. Iran and Pakistan maintain calm diplomatic relations.
2006 -- Various
Following the condemnation of author Salmon Rashdie by Iranian religious leaders, many embassies were briefly stormed or occupied, including the Danish embassy facility. Associated Press reported the crowds were angered when a cartoon appeared in Danish newspapers that Iranian clerics deemed to be insulting the prophet Mohammad.
1988 -- USSR
In protest of Soviet support of Iraq during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, student demonstrators poured over the embassy walls and ransacked the Soviet embassy offices. Associated Press reported that order was quickly restored by Iranian security forces after stones and fire bombs were thrown at the embassy building. Soviet policy during the eight-year war varied - often supporting both sides with military and economic assistance.
1988 -- Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
Following the death of more than 400 people on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Iranian students stormed the embassies of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to demand the overthrown of the House of Saud. The Saudi embassy was briefly occupied before Iranian security cleared the protesters. Reuters reported the Kuwaiti embassy was set aflame. Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were affected for decades, including a dramatic reduction in the number of Iranians that were permitted to make the annual trip to the Muslim holy site.
1979 -- United States
Islamic students stormed the American embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979, following the fall of the government of Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi. Iranian government forces were slow to react, allowing the embassy compound and ambassador's residence to be occupied, and 65 American diplomats were taken hostage. UPI reported women and black embassy personnel were released, but 52 diplomats remained in captivity for 444 days.
1829 -- Russian Imperial
Hundreds of protestors stormed the Russian Imperial embassy after the Shah ordered the return of three Armenians being sheltered within the embassy. According to a report issued by the Carnegie Endowment, well-known author and Russian minister plenipotentiary (ambassador) Aleksander Griboyedov and his embassy staff were slaughtered after angry crowds stormed the embassy in protest. Their decapitated bodies were paraded through the streets of Tehran by jubilant protestors. Afterwards, the Shah presented a peace offering to the Russian Czar. The giant diamond is known as "the Shah's Diamond."
Dan McGinnis is a freelance writer, published author and former newspaper publisher. He has been a candidate, campaign manager and press secretary for state and local political campaigns for more than 30 years.
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