Iran summons UK ambassador over intrusive statements

ANKARA (AA) - Iran summoned UK Ambassador to Tehran Simon Shercliff on Wednesday to protest Britain’s statements regarding the unrest that started after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, in police custody last month.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the UK is "interfering in Iran's internal affairs by issuing meddlesome and provocative comments.”

Iran accused the UK of "siding with terrorist organizations against the Iranian government.”

According to the ministry’s statement, Tehran will "consider possible responses to the actions of the United Kingdom.”

Mahsa Amini died on Sept. 16 in mysterious circumstances after being detained and taken to the headquarters of the "morality police" in Tehran.

While authorities maintain that she died of cardiac arrest, her family claims she was beaten in police custody, which has fueled angry protests across Iran in recent days and drawn condemnation from across the world, including the UK.

Many countries in the West have issued strongly-worded statements in recent days over Amini's death in police custody, demanding impartial investigations.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report