Iran plane crash: Britain condemns Tehran's arrest of UK ambassador

Protests in Tehran after Iran admits shooting down Ukraine International Airlines plane

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the arrest of the UK ambassador to Iran as a "flagrant violation of international law".

Rob Macaire was detained after attending a vigil for those who died when a passenger plane was shot down on Wednesday.

He left when it turned into a protest before being arrested and accused of helping to organise the demonstrations.

Mr Macaire denied taking part in the protests in a tweet on Sunday.

He said he was attending the vigil because it was "normal to want to pay respects", adding that some of the victims were British.

The ambassador added: "Arresting diplomats is of course illegal, in all countries."

In a statement, Mr Raab said: "The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law.

"The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards."

Mr Macaire was arrested and held for three hours when he stopped at a barber shop for a haircut on his way back to the UK embassy.

Under the Vienna Convention, diplomats cannot be detained. The Foreign Office is to demand a full explanation.

The Iranian Etemad newspaper shared a picture of the ambassador on Twitter after the Tasnim news agency reported his arrest. Britain condemns Iran's arrest of UK ambassador