London: Iran has blocked access to a British government website aimed at Iranian audiences in a new act of aggression against the UK, Britain`s Foreign Secretary said on Thursday.

William Hague claimed that the website the online presence of Britain`s now shuttered embassy in Tehran had been deliberately targeted by the Iranian regime.

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The decision to disrupt access to the site follows the violent storming of Britain`s embassy by demonstrators last month, when a mob trashed rooms, damaged furniture, scrawled graffiti and tore up a portrait of Queen Victoria, as staff took shelter.
Hague pulled British diplomats out of Iran for their own safety and made the rare decision to expel all Iranian diplomats from UK soil.

The British website contained information for Iranian hoping to visit Britain and details on UK government policies. Those trying to access the pages are now directed to a list of Iranian government approved websites, including Iran`s English-language Press TV. "This action is counterproductive and ill-judged. It will confirm to the Iranian people that their government is determined to block their access to information, and to conceal from them the international community`s legitimate concerns about Iran`s policies and behaviour.

It will also make it harder for Iranian nationals to access information about visiting the UK," Hague said. He said the action provided further proof of "the Iranian government`s dire record on freedom of speech and human rights in general."

PTI