Iran Confirms Resumption of Diplomatic Ties with Britain
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Almost two years after Britain withdrew its diplomats from Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the two sides are to resume diplomatic relations at the level of non-resident charge d'affaires.
“The agreement has been reached on resuming Tehran-London diplomatic relations at non-resident charge d’affires level presently,” Marziyeh Afkham told Tasnim News Agency on Tuesday evening.
The diplomats will remain in their own countries, but will discuss reopening embassies in London and Tehran.
The move to restore relations came after the British foreign secretary, William Hague, met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the United Nations. The two top diplomats reached the final agreement in a Monday phone talk.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, too, has said that Britain and Iran have begun a process that could lead to the reopening of their embassies after diplomatic relations broke off in 2011.
Hague told Parliament on October 8 that he and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, had agreed on gradual steps to mend ties.
He said that the two countries would first appoint a non-resident charge d'affaires tasked with gradually building relations, which will eventually lead toward the reopening of embassies of both countries.
On November 27, 2011, a large majority of Iranian MPs 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.
After 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.
