Tehran-London Ties to Benefit World Peace: Britain’s Straw

Speaking in a Sunday ceremony in London to reopen the Iranian embassy there, Straw said that promotion of Iran-Britain relations is of a great importance given the current situation in the Middle East.

He expressed pleasure at the reopening of embassies and the expansion of relations between the two countries.

Good ties between Iran and Britain not only are in the interest of the two countries’ nations, but will also benefit regional stability and world peace, he stressed.

He further said that Tehran and London should look for commonalities, which are much more than their differences.

Iran’s embassy in London resumed its diplomatic activities at the same time as the British embassy in Tehran was reopened on Sunday after a 4-year closure.

On Saturday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi had said Tehran and London still have 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 on July 14.

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.