Iranian, British Embassies Reopen in Two Capitals

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning, attended a ceremony to mark the reopening.

Only BBC reporters were allowed in the ceremony.

It was the first visit by a British foreign secretary to Iran since 2003.

Hammond is also going to hold a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif later in the day.

After arrival in Tehran, Hammond described his visit as a “historic moment in Iran-UK relations.”

Simultaneously, Iran’s embassy in London also reopened.

On Saturday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said Tehran and London have still no plans to appoint ambassadors.

The status of non-resident charge d’affaires of the two countries will change into resident, the Iranian diplomat said, adding that the British embassy will only issue “diplomatic and service visas” after being reopened.

The thaw in Iran-Britain relations follows finalization of a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) on July 14.

The two countries’ ties soured in 2011. 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 the European country’s flag.

Following the incident, Britain withdrew its diplomatic staff from Tehran on November 30 and asked Iran’s diplomatic delegation in London to leave within 48 hours.

The two countries made diplomatic efforts afterwards to amend ties.

Ajay Sharma, previously head of the British Foreign Office’s Iran department, was later appointed non-resident charge d’affaires to Iran. Tehran also appointed Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh as the country’s non-resident charge d’affaires to Britain.