The mutual expulsion of diplomats by Iran and Britain shows that relations between these two old antagonists are alive and bad.
The expulsions started on the Iranian side when two British diplomats were expelled with the usual claim of "activities incompatible with their status".
This often means spying but it could mean anything and the Iranians did not explain. More out of routine than anger, Britain retaliated in kind.
It all followed the speech last Friday by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who called Britain the most "evil" of the "hungry wolves in ambush" on Iran.
The expulsions tell us quite a bit about the Iranian government - how paranoiac it remains and how ready to blame foreigners for its troubles.
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