Iran and Britain’s history of strained relations
DUBAI (Reuters) - British-Iranian relations, which have been strained for decades, were back in the spotlight after Iranian authorities sentenced to death British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari for spying, charges he denies.Here is a timeline of main developments since the 1950s:1953 - Britain and the United States help orchestrate the overthrow of popular Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh and restore Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to power.1979 - Islamic Revolution overthrows the U.S.-backed Shah.1980 - Britain closes its embassy in Tehran.1988 - Britain restores full diplomatic relations with Iran.February 1989 - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini calls on Muslims to kill British author Salman Rushdie for blasphemy against Islam in his book "The Satanic Verses", prompting Britain to break diplomatic relations in March.1990 - Partial diplomatic relations are restored.1994 - Britain accuses Iran of contacts with the outlawed Irish Republican Army, a charge Iran denies but relations worsen. Iran and Britain expel each others' diplomats over the IRA issue.1998 - Iran formally dissociates itself from the call to kill Rushdie.1999 - Iran says relations between Tehran and Britain have been upgraded to ambassadorial level.September 2001 - British Foreign Minister Jack Straw visits Iran to strengthen an international "anti-terror" coalition after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.2004 - Iran arrests eight British military personnel for straying into its waters from Iraq. They are later freed.2005 - Britain says there is evidence Iran or the Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah was the source of technology used in roadside bombs against British soldiers in Iraq, a charge Tehran Iran denies.