Council of clerics approves law passed one day earlier by Tehran's parliament, retaliating against UK sanctions.
By REUTERSIran's parliament 311 (R)(photo credit: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi)
TEHRAN - A bill to downgrade Iran's relations with Britain got final approval on Monday, state broadcaster IRIB reported, a day after Tehran's parliament approved the measure compelling the government to expel the British ambassador."The members of the Guardian Council, after examination of the plan, have approved it unanimously," Abbasali Kadkhodai, spokesman for the council, was quoted as saying on IRIB's website.RELATED:Iran says 150,000 missiles pointed at Israel UK: Iran choice to downgrade ties 'regrettable' The exceptionally rapid approval from the Guardian Council, a panel of 12 clerics and jurists who judge whether legislation is Islamic, reflects the urgency with which Iran is treating its reaction to punitive sanctions announced by Britain last week.
Passed by legislators who chanted "Death to England" on Sunday, the law is retaliation for London's decision to ban British banks from dealing with Iranian ones, including the Central Bank of Iran.Britain acted following a Nov. 8 report by the UN nuclear watchdog citing intelligence indicating that Iran has worked on designing an atomic bomb. Iran says the intelligence is forged and that its nuclear energy program has wholly peaceful aims.Members of the Iranian parliament said Iran would take similar action against any other countries that follow suit.European Union foreign ministers are due to meet on Thursday to approve new sanctions that could cut financial links and ban oil imports from Iran over suspicions that it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
