Protester rips flag off Iranian Embassy in London as demonstrations reach Britain

Social media footage appeared to show a man on the balcony pulling down the flag and replacing it with the pre-Islamic revolution lion and sun flag – often used by opposition groups in the country.

Protests in Iran began on December 28 and have transformed into the most significant challenge to the regime for several years.

Earlier this week, Sir Keir Starmer condemned the killing of protesters in the country and urged Tehran to "exercise restraint" amid a crackdown on demonstrations against the regime.

At least 62 people are reported to have been killed and 2,300 detained during weeks of protests initially sparked by anger over the country’s ailing economy.

In an update on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said two arrests had been made, one for aggravated trespass and assault on an emergency worker and one for aggravated trespass. Officers are also looking for another person for trespass.

Iran’s leaders have also shut down access to the internet and international telephone calls in response to the protests.

In a joint statement with the leaders of France and Germany, Sir Keir said he was "deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces” and “strongly” condemned the killing of protesters.

The leaders added: "The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal. We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens."

Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch said: "A regime that represses its own people, crushes rights and strips away basic freedoms is the same regime that exports terror, funds extremism and threatens stability far beyond its borders.

"Even here in Britain, Iran is trying to murder its political opponents. We stand with the Iranian people who want a secular, democratic future for Iran."

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said: "We could well be at the beginning of a Berlin Wall moment for brave protesters in Iran.

"The Foreign Secretary must come to parliament on Monday and explain what the international community is going to do to assist the peaceful protesters."

The Iranian embassy was the site of a famous siege in 1980 when six armed men took 26 people hostage.

The hostage-takers were Iranian-Arabs campaigning for the sovereignty of Khuzestan, a province in the south-west of the country.

SAS soldiers stormed the embassy in 17 minutes on day six of the siege.

They rescued all but one of the hostages, killing five of the six hostage-takers in the process.

Now, cross-party politicians are demanding Labour ban Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as the situation deteriorates.

Senior Tory and Reform figures are calling for the proscription of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran’s Supreme Leader has placed the country’s security services on their highest state of alert as protests threatened to topple the regime.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the IRGC which has more than 190,000 active personnel and operates its own ground forces, navy and air force to take control of the crackdown amid fears of defections by the regular armed forces and police.

Deputy Reform UK Leader Richard Tice said: "Reform will proscribe the IRGC and ban the Muslim Brotherhood.

"Both Tories and Labour have feebly kowtowed to Foreign Office cowardice. Strong, clear leadership is required. These are extremist terror groups who wish us harm."

Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: "Our hearts go out to those in Iran who are bravely protesting against a brutal regime that executes protesters, tortures and brutalises its own citizens, and supports terrorist groups around the world.

"It is time for the UK government to show its support by proscribing the IRGC, who are responsible for so much of this violence and destruction."