By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN - The government is closely monitoring the situation in Tehran, where Iranian students on Thursday scuffled with riot police who blocked the road leading to the Jordanian embassy.

A government official told The Jordan Times later in the day that "the government is monitoring the situation closely in Tehran. The Iranian authorities pledged they would ensure the safety of the embassy staff".

He added that the government understands the state of congestion in the world over the Israeli aggression in Gaza. He stressed, however, that expression of anger over the situation must be translated in peaceful and civilised manner.

"Jordan was the first country to condemn the Israeli attacks on the Palestinians in Gaza," the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, citing efforts exerted by His Majesty King Abdullah at the local, regional and international levels to bring an end to the crisis.

The situation in Tehran was brought under control after a representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, told the crowd not to break into embassies or clash with police, Reuters reported.