The UK ambassador to Tehran was summoned by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday in protest against his remarks perceived as “interventionist content.”

The Ministry also expressed Iran's firm objection to his positions, which were “unmeasured, irresponsible” and contrary to “diplomatic norms and regulations.”

The British ambassador, Simon Shercliff, had posted comments on a social networking site coinciding with Iran's National Journalists Day. Simultaneously,  the Director General of Western Europe Affairs at the Iranian Foreign Ministry expressed strong objections during the meeting, deeming Shercliff's statements as noncompliant with diplomatic norms and tantamount to meddling in internal matters.

The Iranian diplomat also highlighted the negative actions of certain London-based media outlets under the guise of freedom of speech and reminded the UK envoy of his country's history in relation to Iran.

In response, the UK ambassador emphasized the desire to maintain respectful relations with Iran while acknowledging the sovereignty of the nation.

This is happening shortly after Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani announced Iran's condemnation of the UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman's "baseless" accusations against the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), reaffirming that the UK does not have the moral high ground to make such accusations toward the IRGC, which has fought UK-funded terrorism for decades.

During a press brief, on Monday, in Tehran, Kanaani said, “The UK is not in a position to make accusations against the IRGC with its dark history in West Asia, which has caused deep instability in the region, as well as its role in covert and overt support of terrorism."

According to Kanaani, "The IRGC has provided many services not only to the regional countries but also to the European states."

"No one can ignore the decisive and important role played by the IRGC in the course of the continuous and serious fight against terrorism, especially Daesh."

In a direct address to the UK, Kanaani firmly noted that "Britain cannot also lay baseless charges against the IRGC," reaffirming, "We will not accept this issue from any side.”

Iran summons UK envoy over 'destructive, interventionist' actions

Earlier in July, Iran summoned Britain's envoy in Tehran to protest against "destructive and interventionist actions" after London had announced new anti-Iran sanctions, Iranian state media reported.

This came after UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had said anti-Iran sanctions over alleged "human rights violations" and "hostile" actions on UK soil will expand.

"In response to the continued destructive and interventionist actions and statements of Britain, Isabelle Marsh, the charge d'affaires of the British Embassy in Tehran, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," state-run Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry "considered the statements and positions of the British authorities as well as the recent sanctions... as an illegal and interventionist action," the news agency pointed out.

It is noteworthy that since the start of the year, Britain has imposed dozens of asset freezes and travel bans, citing alleged human rights abuses, on Iranian individuals and organizations, including IRGC commanders and Tehran's prosecutor general.

Read more: UK to breach Iran nuclear deal amid refusal to lift sanctions