UK Ambassador to Iran Simon Shercliff

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the UK Ambassador to Iran Simon Shercliff on Saturday over UK officials' hostile rhetoric toward Iran and in protest of London's support of violent demonstrations in the country, Iranian media report.

Iran strongly denounced the continued interference of the UK in its domestic affairs, "undiplomatic" remarks of UK officials about the situation in the country, and the state and media support of the riots, Tasnim news agency said.

London's "unfounded and hypocritical" sanctions against Iranian citizens were also slammed by the ministry, which told Shercliff that it reserved the right to retaliate.

It is worth noting that UK prime minister Rishi Sunak pledged will have whatever powers needed to crack down on disruptive protests. In November, the UK imposed illegal anti-Iran sanctions under the pretext of defending human rights and supporting the rioters in Iran.

Rishi Sunak has said it is "completely unacceptable" to disrupt people's lives by a "selfish minority" who join illegal protests.

According to a high-ranking EU official, the Union's foreign ministers will impose a new set of sanctions against Iran on November 14 in "support of the protesters" in the country.

EU foreign ministers imposed asset freezes and travel bans linked to riots in Iran on Iran's morality police, four Iranian public institutions, and 11 Iranian individuals.

The Secretary of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, Kazem Gharibabadi, called out the UK government for backing anti-Iran Persian-speaking media outlets that are carrying out a campaign against the country "completely contrary to laws and regulations".

Gharibabadi requested an investigation to be carried out by the British communications regulator Ofcom for such violations made by the UK government, adding that the role played by media outlets in inciting riots in Iran and social and security turmoil is equal to or more than the role played by the terrorist groups.

Iran has recently been the target of Western-fueled protests since the death of Mahsa Amini, whose demise was wrongfully blamed on the Iranian police.

Read: Iran denounces West's meddling in internal affairs, Mahsa Amini’s case