The UK's lead envoy in Iran is returning to London for talks following his arrest in Tehran.
British ambassador Rob Macaire, who was detained amid the rising tensions in the Middle East, is set to return to Iran following a round of meetings.
The envoy has been labelled “persona non grata” by Iran’s judiciary, meaning someone who is prohibited from remaining in or entering a country.
It was calling for his expulsion after the envoy’s arrest on Saturday over his attendance at a vigil for the 176 people, including four Britons, killed when Iran accidentally shot down a Ukrainian jet.
The Foreign Office said he would return after time in the capital and a spokesman said: “It is quite normal for our ambassadors to come back to London to have meetings here.”
Mr Macaire was detained for more than an hour before being released, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported.
He was said to have been one of a number of individuals held on suspicion of organising, provoking and directing radical actions.
Mr Macaire was said to be "safe and well" in the UK embassy on Saturday night.
On Sunday morning UK time the diplomat sent a series of tweets to say he was not involved in a protest and was just wanting to "pay respects" to those who died.
Following this, Mr Raab said in a statement: “The arrest of our ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law.
“The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment."
