THE IRANIAN diplomats who were ordered out of Britain by the British government last week have arrived back in Tehran, according to Iranian media.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister has criticised the expulsion, describing the action as an indication of the irresponsible attitude of British officials, IRNA reports.

Hassan Qashqavi also said that the Iranian parliament has been in the process of ratifying a bill to cut its relations with Britain and the only thing standing in the way of passing the measure was concern for the 200,000 Iranian citizens living in Britain who may need access to an embassy in London.

Over 100 people gathered at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport to welcome the expelled diplomats home this morning.

Meanwhile, France is following up its decision earlier this to recall its ambassador to Iran for discussions by withdrawing all diplomatic staff from the country in the coming days.

France, Germany and the Netherlands recalled their Iranian ambassadors after Britain’s embassy in Tehran was attacked by an angry crowd of protesters on Tuesday. The demonstrators, who stormed the embassy, were reportedly reacting to Britain’s decision to impose new economic sanctions cutting ties between Iranian and UK financial institutions.

In photos: Iranian embassy staff in London prepare to leave and demonstrators await the expelled diplomats’ arrival in Tehran: