Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagaryan was invited to the Iranian Foreign Ministry after publishing a joint photo with the British Ambassador. This was reported by the Russian embassy.
“During the conversation, which took place in a friendly atmosphere, the Iranian side was given all the necessary explanations, which have already been published on the social networks of the embassy. The ambassador expressed regret for the misunderstanding”, the diplomatic mission said.
Earlier, the Russian embassy in Iran reported that Jagaryan had met with the new British ambassador to Tehran, Simon Sherkliffe. The meeting, as the embassy noted on Twitter, took place “on the historical ladder where the Tehran Conference in 1943” was held, at which the outlines of the post-war Yalta-Potsdam system of international relations were outlined.
This caused a wave of criticism from Iranian politicians and members of the public. In particular, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the photo “extremely inappropriate”, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baker Galibaf pointed to the need for a “decisive diplomatic response” if the ambassadors of the two countries do not apologize.
Later, the Russian Embassy, in the light of such a reaction, stated that the publication was not made with an “anti-Iranian” message. The representative office noted that they were not going to offend the feelings of the friendly people of Iran, and the only meaning of this photo is to pay tribute to the joint efforts of the allies in the fight against Nazism during World War II.
Iran is sensitive to the periods of history associated with the presence of foreign troops on its territory. In August-September 1941, the USSR and Great Britain brought their troops into the country and took control of various parts of it. The reason for this decision was the fears of Moscow and London, caused by the strengthening of ties between the Iranian authorities and the leadership of Nazi Germany.