Britain reopens embassy in Tehran

AFP, TEHRAN: Britain’s foreign secretary reopened his country’s embassy in Tehran yesterday in a long-awaited step signalling better relations four years after a mob stormed the compound, forcing its closure.
Philip Hammond’s two-day trip comes five weeks after Britain and five other world powers struck a deal with Iran to end a 13-year dispute over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.
He led a ceremony shortly after noon in the embassy garden with Ajay Sharma, the new charge d’affaires who will be Britain’s top diplomat in Tehran.
Iran’s embassy in London also reopened on Sunday. The two nations are expected to appoint ambassadors within months.
Hammond, the first British foreign secretary to visit Iran since Jack Straw in 2003, described the violence that shuttered the Tehran mission as “a low point” but said a new journey was beginning.
“Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by making sure that it is fully implemented by all sides,” Hammond said at the reopening.
“Through this embassy’s efforts we will support British trade and investment, once sanctions are lifted. That will bring benefits for Britain and the Iranian people.”
Hammond was to later hold a press conference with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister and lead negotiator in the nearly two years of talks that have ended Tehran’s isolation from the West.
European officials have been quick to visit Iran since July 14, when the nuclear agreement with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States was announced in Vienna.

Britain reopens embassy in Tehran

AFP, TEHRAN: Britains foreign secretary reopened his countrys embassy in Tehran yesterday in a long-awaited step signalling better relations four years after a mob stormed the compound, forcing its closure. Philip Hammonds two-day trip comes five weeks after Britain and five other world powers struck a deal with Iran to end a 13-year dispute over the Islamic republics nuclear programme. He led a ceremony shortly after noon in the embassy garden with Ajay Sharma, the new charge daffaires who will be Britains top diplomat in Tehran. Irans embassy in London also reopened on Sunday. The two nations are expected to appoint ambassadors within months. Hammond, the first British foreign secretary to visit Iran since Jack Straw in 2003, described the violence that shuttered the Tehran mission as a low point but said a new journey was beginning. Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by making sure that it is fully implemented by all sides, Hammond said at the reopening. Through this embassys efforts we will support British trade and investment, once sanctions are lifted. That will bring benefits for Britain and the Iranian people. Hammond was to later hold a press conference with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister and lead negotiator in the nearly two years of talks that have ended Tehrans isolation from the West. European officials have been quick to visit Iran since July 14, when the nuclear agreement with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States was announced in Vienna.