In response to Iran’s nuclear program and Iranian banks’ money-laundering activities, Britain sanctioned the Central Bank of Iran. As a result, Iran felt compelled to respond –&#160;and not solely with the assault on the British embassy: a few days prior to the attack, a majority in the Iranian parliament voted to downgrade the country’s diplomatic relations with Britain.
这不是欧洲或英国使馆第一次被巴斯杰袭击了。但这一次的赌注比以前任何一次都要大。为了应对伊朗的核计划和伊朗银行的洗钱行径，英国对伊朗央行实施了制裁。结果，伊朗觉得必须做出回应——包括但不限于袭击英国大使馆：袭击发生前几天，伊朗议会以多数通过将伊朗同英国的外交关系级别降格。