This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/world/europe/britain-moves-toward-reopening-embassy-in-iran.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Britain Says It Is Ready to Reopen Embassy in Iran | Britain Says It Is Ready to Reopen Embassy in Iran |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| LONDON — Underscoring its warming relations with Iran, Britain announced Tuesday that “the circumstances are right” to reopen the British Embassy in Tehran and that it would establish a small presence there as soon as is practical. | |
| Full diplomatic ties were suspended in 2011 after attacks on Britain’s diplomatic compound in Tehran, but relations have been improving ever since a change in political leadership in Iran last year and progress in international talks on Iran’s nuclear program. | Full diplomatic ties were suspended in 2011 after attacks on Britain’s diplomatic compound in Tehran, but relations have been improving ever since a change in political leadership in Iran last year and progress in international talks on Iran’s nuclear program. |
| The pace of the thaw appears to have been intensified significantly by a shared interest in containing Sunni militants after their recent military successes in Iraq. On Monday, the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said that Foreign Secretary William Hague had spoken about the crisis in Iraq to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, over the weekend. | The pace of the thaw appears to have been intensified significantly by a shared interest in containing Sunni militants after their recent military successes in Iraq. On Monday, the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said that Foreign Secretary William Hague had spoken about the crisis in Iraq to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, over the weekend. |
| “I have therefore now decided the circumstances are right to reopen our embassy in Tehran,” said a ministerial statement released on the website of the British Parliament before Mr. Hague was to speak there. “There are a range of practical issues that we will need to resolve first. However it is our intention to reopen the Embassy in Tehran with a small initial presence as soon as these practical arrangements have been made.” | “I have therefore now decided the circumstances are right to reopen our embassy in Tehran,” said a ministerial statement released on the website of the British Parliament before Mr. Hague was to speak there. “There are a range of practical issues that we will need to resolve first. However it is our intention to reopen the Embassy in Tehran with a small initial presence as soon as these practical arrangements have been made.” |
| The British Foreign Office, which has in the past raised the possibility of reopening of the embassy in Tehran, declined to comment ahead of the statement to Parliament. | |
| The improvement in relations with Tehran began well before the recent offensive by a Sunni militant group in Iraq, known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. | The improvement in relations with Tehran began well before the recent offensive by a Sunni militant group in Iraq, known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. |
| In October, the British government announced talks on improving the relationship between the two countries. A British diplomat, Ajay Sharma, was appointed nonresident chargé d’affaires for Iran, based in Britain but taking over many of the functions of an ambassador. | In October, the British government announced talks on improving the relationship between the two countries. A British diplomat, Ajay Sharma, was appointed nonresident chargé d’affaires for Iran, based in Britain but taking over many of the functions of an ambassador. |
| At the time, the Foreign Office said that Mr. Sharma’s appointment would enable Britain to have “more detailed and regular discussions with Iran on a range of issues, including conditions under which our embassies could eventually be reopened.” | At the time, the Foreign Office said that Mr. Sharma’s appointment would enable Britain to have “more detailed and regular discussions with Iran on a range of issues, including conditions under which our embassies could eventually be reopened.” |
| Mr. Sharma visited Iran in December and said in a statement that he had held “detailed and constructive discussions with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about taking forward our bilateral relationship on a step by step and reciprocal basis.” | Mr. Sharma visited Iran in December and said in a statement that he had held “detailed and constructive discussions with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about taking forward our bilateral relationship on a step by step and reciprocal basis.” |
| He also visited the British Embassy compound to assess the damage caused by the attack in 2011. An Iranian diplomat has made reciprocal visits to Britain, the Foreign Office said. | He also visited the British Embassy compound to assess the damage caused by the attack in 2011. An Iranian diplomat has made reciprocal visits to Britain, the Foreign Office said. |