After almost 4 Years, British Embassy Reopens In Tehran

This marks the drawing of a line under what was a period of tension between the two countries.

Iran reopened its embassy in London on Sunday in a reciprocal move that followed a deal on Iran’s disputed nuclear program reached last month with six major world powers, including Britain and the United States.

Reiterating that both Tehran and London will benefit from having diplomatic missions, the senior diplomat said, “Undoubtedly, the reopening of the embassy and [the resumption of] its entire activities can help [establish] relations in different political, economic and cultural arenas.”

He had a trade delegation with him.

Reiterating that Iran would fulfill its commitments based on the July 14 nuclear deal signed in Vienna, Rouhani stressed that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons and its nuclear facilities were monitored by the worldwide Atomic Energy Agency. It must be noted in this context that European nations are keen to import Iranian gas, as is Pakistan.

But the Foreign Secretary said that despite a “deep legacy of distrust”, the UK and Iran share common ground on the need to defeat IS, also known as Isil, in Syria and Iraq, as well as stopping opium reaching Europe from Afghanistan.

Rouhani echoed that sentiment, alluding Monday to Britain’s historical role in Iran – along with the United States it led a coup that toppled Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953. The nuclear deal proved that diplomacy can be applied successfully even to the most intractable of problems. “We should look to the future”, Rouhani said.

There has been no US embassy in Tehran since it was sacked in the early days of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 by students.

Diplomatic relations were reduced to their lowest possible level, with Britain expelling Iran’s officials.

Lavrov made clear Moscow was open to further dialogue, though it would also not “beg” for better ties.

Protesters in 2011 smashed the large stone lion and unicorn on the gates at the ambassadorial residence, where in 1943 a dinner was held for Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt – the first meeting between the leaders of Britain, Russian Federation and the United States to discuss their strategy for winning World War Two.