UK announces reopening of its embassy in Tehran

The UK has announced plans to reopen its embassy in Tehran, which remains closed since 2011 after assault by hundreds of angry students, as “an important step” to thaw relations between the two countries. The move comes in the context of rapprochement between the Western Allies and the Iranian regime, which is committed to assist Iraq, its historic rival, before the advance of the Sunni jihadists.

“Iran is an important country in a volatile region, and maintain embassies in the world, even in difficult conditions, it is a central pillar of our global diplomacy” stressed the Foreign Secretary William Hague to justify that step. The British embassy in the Iranian capital, he said, will be reopened as soon as the British Government received assurances that staff will be safe.

Two and a half years ago, it was Hague who blamed the theocratic regime’s assault on the British Embassy in Tehran (November 2011) that forced its evacuation and closure of the site. That event, which then found its historical parallel in the attack on the U.S. embassy in 1979 and kidnapping for 444 days, marked one of the lowest points in the always difficult relationship between the two Governments.

The recent election in Iran – President Hasan Rohani more moderate than his predecessor Mahmud Ahmadinejad, and the positions between Tehran and the West on how to address the issue of Iran’s nuclear program has resulted in an increase in contacts with London throughout 2014. Hague just confirmed the relationships qualify as ” growing confidence “.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=45433

Posted by Maleeha Tareen on Jun 19 2014. Filed under Europe, Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.