Iran’s parliament chanted “Death to Britain”, after the UK followed the US’s lead in accusing the country of attempting to gain a nuclear weapon.
MPs voted to cut ties with the UK by expelling the British ambassador, Dominick Chilcott.
The move comes after the UK government decided to toughen sanctions with the US following a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency into Iran’s alleged nuclear programme.
The sanctions were taken out against Iran’s central bank; prompting Tehran’s warning that other countries daring to do the same will be punished.
The dismissal of Mr Chilcott, who was appointed as the new ambassador in late November, received 87% of MPs’ votes
However Iran’s Guardian Council will have to approve it before it can come into effect.
A Foreign Office spokesman warned reporters that the move will not help Iran.
He said, “If the Iranian government acts on this, we will respond robustly in consultation with our international partners.
This unwarranted move will do nothing to help the regime address its growing isolation, or international concerns about its nuclear programme and human rights record.”
Chancellor George Osborne stopped UK money from being imported into Iranian banks, claiming that it was being used to fund a nuclear programme.
But according to reports, the financial cut off will also have a detrimental effect on Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries, which are the country’s main sources of income.
