BICOM

Foreign Secretary William Hague announced yesterday that Britain would re-open its embassy in Iran, which has been closed since 2011.

Diplomatic ties with Iran were cut in 2011 after the British Embassy in Iran was ransacked by a local mob. However, relations have thawed since the election of President Rouhani last summer. In November, bilateral ties were restored with the appointment of a non-resident charges d’affaires. Hague announced yesterday to the House of Commons that, “the circumstances are right to reopen our embassy in Tehran,” following a phone conversation with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif on Saturday night.

Hague nonetheless clarified that despite the re-opening of the embassy, there would be “no softening of any of the UK’s policies in relation to Iran.” More specifically, Hague explained, “For many years” Iran has supported “divisive and often terrorist groups in other parts of the region” and pledged, “we will use the expansion of our bilateral relations to press” Iran to desist from such behaviour. He also said that Britain remains committed to reaching “a successful conclusion to nuclear negotiations.”

Also yesterday, negotiations between Iranian officials and representatives of the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) resumed in Vienna. Talks last month ended without any tangible progress. Both sides are committed to a self-imposed 20 July deadline to strike a long-term deal over Tehran’s nuclear development, having concluded a six-month agreement in Geneva in November.

AFP reports that yesterday’s talks had begun to focus on a text for an accord. Meanwhile, Michael Mann, the spokesman for P5+1 delegation head Catherine Ashton commented, “Everyone is aware that we are entering a phase of negotiations where things are getting quite intense.” It is thought that a number of serious sticking points persist, including a deep disagreement over the number of centrifuges permitted for Iran’s use. Other outstanding issues include the Arak heavy water reactor and “possible military dimensions” to the Iranian nuclear programme.