Embassy Reopening Important Step for Tehran-London Ties: Diplomat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Britain's non-resident Chargé d’Affaires to Iran described London's plan to reopen its Tehran embassy as important for the two countries’ relations.
“Pleased we’ll be reopening our Embassy in Iran. An important step forward for bilateral relations,” Ajay Sharma wrote on his twitter account.
“Initial presence will only offer limited services at first but hope to make progress, including on visas, in following months,” Sharma, who is based in London, but travels regularly to Iran, added.
Meantime, British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the British embassy in Iran will be reopened.
Hague said the "circumstances were right" following a recent improvement in bilateral relations.
Tehran-London relations became tense three years ago. On November 27, 2011, a large majority of Iranian lawmakers voted to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain, following Britain's decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran.
Later, angry Iranian students stormed the British embassy in Tehran and pulled down that country’s flag.
Following the incident, Britain withdrew its diplomatic staff from the country on November 30 and asked Iran’s diplomatic delegation in London to leave within 48 hours.
