Britain is cutting off diplomatic ties with Iran in the aftermath of the storming of the British embassy in Tehran by protesters earlier this week. Britain has now withdrawn all its staff from Tehran while also ordering the closure of the Iranian embassy in London and the expulsion of its diplomats. The move comes ahead of a key European Union meeting today where foreign ministers could approve a new round of sanctions. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he expects to see punitive action on Iran.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague: “I hope we will agree today additional measures that will be an intensification of the economic pressure on Iran, peaceful, legitimate economic pressure, particularly to increase the isolation of the Iranian financial sector. But that of course is to be discussed at the meeting.”