Iranian Diplomat Says No Apology to Britain for Embassy Event
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister said Tehran and London are working to amend their diplomatic ties that chilled after closure of the British embassy in the Iranian capital in 2011, but at the same time made clear the Islamic Republic will make no apology to London.
“An apology is not under consideration. There are many things that happened in the past for which we have not received an apology. But we are definitely working with the British government on what happened," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi told The Guardian.
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.
Elsewhere in his interview, Takht Ravanchi said compensation for the 2011 attack on the British embassy might be part of the discussions to restore diplomatic relations, but Tehran will not offer a formal apology.
He noted that an agreement on the issue was possible by the end of the year although there was no timetable.
Earlier in March, in a video message released on the advent of the new Iranian year, British Foreign Secretary William Hague underlined his country’s commitment to improving strained relations with Iran.
Signaling London’s willingness for a thaw in strained relations with Tehran, Hague said, “I want to say to the Iranian people that the UK looks forward this year to improving relations with Iran.”
