Rogue State
The safety of foreign diplomats is a basic duty of any civilised state - whatever differences that exist between respective countries - for thousands of years it has been accepted that you don't 'shoot the messenger'.
Yet that is what the 'mad mullahs' in Tehran have done - by encouraging their proxies to attack what is effectively a tiny piece of the UK on foreign soil - where people should be safe and secure.
The UK's response should be measured but firm - pull out all embassy staff and put pressure on Russia and China to fall in line with the rest of the international community.
Because up until now Russia and China have effectively been helping to prop up this tyrannical regime - led by religious extremists.
Iran has previous 'form' in this area - and a history of taking hostages as a way of prosecuting disputes.
But it is completely vile behaviour that cannot be tolerated by the United Nations and the international community - otherwise things will spiral even further out of control.
