Ambassador Seyed Ali Mousavi was summoned to the Foreign Office by the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, following reports about the message, and the Metropolitan Police said it was assessing the post.
But the Chief Rabbi has urged the government to take decisive action in expelling the regime’s emissary.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 on Friday, Mirvis said: “We are wondering how it is possible on Tuesday, just three days ago, the Iranian embassy here in the UK called on Iranians in the UK ‘be loyal to your country’, go out and even put your lives on the line in order to act on behalf of Iran. It is basically a call for martyrdom.
“One day later, we see somebody trying to knife as many people to death because they are Jews in Golders Green.”
He questioned why Britain had not followed other countries in expelling the envoy.
“How is it in Australia, the Iranian ambassador has been expelled, that in Lebanon of all places, the Iranian ambassador has been expelled, why is the Iranian ambassador still here?”
The Chief Rabbi warned of “state-sponsored terrorist activity in this country” and criticised the delay in proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a move backed by both Labour and the Conservatives but which is yet to be implemented.
“Why isn’t there a more serious look at the threat not just to Jews, the threat from Iran within our society and to our whole society?” he said. “We need a national emergency … and we must give far more seriousness to the situation at this time.”
Iranian embassy in London with police outside (Image: Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Responding to the chief rabbi’s comments, government minister Alex Davies-Jones said it was important to maintain diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic.
“This is important that we get this right, that we are keeping those channels open, that we are keeping diplomatic channels open with the Iranian ambassador, particularly at a time when there is war taking place in Iran,” she said.
She described the Telegram comments as “abhorrent”, adding that the Foreign Office had summoned the ambassador “to discuss those comments, to see what more can be done working together”.
Mirvis’ remarks follow comments by Nigel Farage, who told the JC that a Reform government would expel Iran’s ambassador.
A spokesman for the Iranian embassy in London said: “Iranians around the world have always cared deeply about their homeland and the protection of its territorial integrity and they always will.
“The ‘Jan Fada’ platform is intended for all Iranians who wish to support and defend their country, and it does not promote any form of hostility.
“Any claims or assumptions to the contrary are simply unfounded. Such biased judgments are made hastily and without proper understanding.”
The Foreign Office has been approached for comment.
