The United Kingdom after three years of suspending full diplomatic relations with Iran has announced the re-opening of the British embassy in Iran.
This was disclosed by the Foreign Secretary William Hague who stated that “Iran does have the capability to play a more positive role across the region which makes it is an important step forward in relations with Iran.”
He stressed that the circumstances surrounding the suspension were right, “the circumstances were right following an improvement in bilateral relations in recent months”.
It will be recalled that full diplomatic relations with Iran were suspended after attacks on the British embassy in Iran in 2011.
Meanwhile, the election of a new Iranian president and a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme has led to renewed contacts this year.
The move comes as Iraqi forces are engaged in heavy clashes with Sunni Islamist militants across the country and amid reports that Iran is providing military assistance to its historic rival.
The US is deploying up to 275 military personnel to protect staff at its huge embassy in Iraq.
Mr Hague said the UK embassy would re-open “as soon as practical arrangements are made” as a sign of “increasing confidence” in the state of relations between the two countries.