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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iran issues 'punch' warning to UK | Iran issues 'punch' warning to UK |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Britain has been given a warning by Iran's foreign minister that it will receive "a punch on the mouth" if it does not "stop the nonsense". | Britain has been given a warning by Iran's foreign minister that it will receive "a punch on the mouth" if it does not "stop the nonsense". |
| Manouchehr Mottaki issued the warning following the violent opposition protests across the country on Sunday. | Manouchehr Mottaki issued the warning following the violent opposition protests across the country on Sunday. |
| He was responding to criticism from the UK Foreign Minister David Miliband. | He was responding to criticism from the UK Foreign Minister David Miliband. |
| Mr Miliband issued a statement on Monday hailing the "great courage" of those who took part in protests in Tehran. | Mr Miliband issued a statement on Monday hailing the "great courage" of those who took part in protests in Tehran. |
| Iran's government says the clashes, which resulted in least eight people being killed, were inspired and aided by the West. | Iran's government says the clashes, which resulted in least eight people being killed, were inspired and aided by the West. |
| Mr Mottaki said the protesters "should not be encouraged by a few... statements by certain countries". | Mr Mottaki said the protesters "should not be encouraged by a few... statements by certain countries". |
| He added: "They should not pin their hopes on them. Britain will receive a punch on the mouth if it does not stop its nonsense. | He added: "They should not pin their hopes on them. Britain will receive a punch on the mouth if it does not stop its nonsense. |
| Mr Mottaki's speech was broadcast on Iranian television with an English translation on screen. | |
| "The lowly and downgrading remarks by some foreign officials show the black stain on their record in their... contradictory interactions." | "The lowly and downgrading remarks by some foreign officials show the black stain on their record in their... contradictory interactions." |
| The tragic deaths of protesters in Iran are yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest David Miliband, Foreign Minister | The tragic deaths of protesters in Iran are yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest David Miliband, Foreign Minister |
| Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that "some Western countries are supporting this sort of activities" and that this was "intervention in our internal affairs". | Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that "some Western countries are supporting this sort of activities" and that this was "intervention in our internal affairs". |
| He said that as a result, the British ambassador is to be summoned on Tuesday and a formal complaint would be made. | He said that as a result, the British ambassador is to be summoned on Tuesday and a formal complaint would be made. |
| Mr Miliband condemned the lack of restraint by Iranian security forces, saying that reports emerging from the capital were "disturbing". | Mr Miliband condemned the lack of restraint by Iranian security forces, saying that reports emerging from the capital were "disturbing". |
| "The tragic deaths of protesters in Iran are yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest," he said. | "The tragic deaths of protesters in Iran are yet another reminder of how the Iranian regime deals with protest," he said. |
| "Ordinary Iranian citizens are determined to exercise their right to have their voices heard. They are showing great courage. | "Ordinary Iranian citizens are determined to exercise their right to have their voices heard. They are showing great courage. |
| "I call on the Iranian government to respect the human rights of its own citizens - rights which Iran has promised to respect." | "I call on the Iranian government to respect the human rights of its own citizens - rights which Iran has promised to respect." |