The World : British Envoy Seized in Iran

Britain’s No. 2 diplomat in Iran was kidnaped by a group of armed men, who forced his car to stop on a Tehran highway, the Foreign Office in London said. Edward Chaplin, 36, first secretary at the British interests section in Tehran, was traveling with his wife and baby son, who were left alone and unharmed, the spokesman said. No group has claimed responsibility. The British government has expressed “its grave concern” to the Iranian government and to Iranian officials in London and has “sought their assurance in having him released immediately,” the spokesman said. Britain closed its Tehran embassy on Sept. 9, 1980, and its diplomats 1751217765Swedish Embassy.