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Tehran embassy re-opening will test troubled UK-Iran relations Tehran embassy re-opening will test troubled UK-Iran relations
(35 minutes later)
Tehran’s Ferdowsi Avenue commemorates Iran’s national poet. It is also home to the British Embassy, still shuttered and closed after the attack on it four years ago - at a low point in relations between the Islamic Republic and the country Iranians have often called the Little Satan - alongside the Great American one.Tehran’s Ferdowsi Avenue commemorates Iran’s national poet. It is also home to the British Embassy, still shuttered and closed after the attack on it four years ago - at a low point in relations between the Islamic Republic and the country Iranians have often called the Little Satan - alongside the Great American one.
Now in the wake of the Vienna nuclear agreement, the embassy is to re-open by the end of the year, foreign secretary Philip Hammond announced this week, once some “technical issues” are resolved. Visas are one problem; another relates to the “practical functioning of the mission.” Talks about compensation continue. Now in the wake of the Vienna nuclear agreement, the embassy is to re-open by the end of the year, foreign secretary Philip Hammond announced this week, once some “technical issues” are resolved. Visas are one problem; another relates to the “practical functioning of the mission”. Talks about compensation continue.
Britain’s outpost in the Iranian capital has witnessed many of the often fraught interactions between the two countries. The sprawling compound dates back to the last quarter of the 19th century, when Persia was the playground for a “great game” between Russia and Britain, always seeking to protect India.Britain’s outpost in the Iranian capital has witnessed many of the often fraught interactions between the two countries. The sprawling compound dates back to the last quarter of the 19th century, when Persia was the playground for a “great game” between Russia and Britain, always seeking to protect India.
In 1943 the embassy’s elegant residency hosted the Tehran conference with Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt. A decade later MI6 agents notoriously helped the CIA mount a coup against Muhammad Mossadegh, the popular prime minister who had dared to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian oil company – forerunner to BP.In 1943 the embassy’s elegant residency hosted the Tehran conference with Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt. A decade later MI6 agents notoriously helped the CIA mount a coup against Muhammad Mossadegh, the popular prime minister who had dared to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian oil company – forerunner to BP.
In the 1960s and 1970s Britain backed the Shah as the “policeman” of the Gulf – and saw Iran as a lucrative market. British ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons famously reported to London that the Shah’s position was secure - as late as 1978. Many Iranians believed the BBC helped topple him and bring Ayatollah Khomeini to power the following year. Uncle Napoleon, a much-loved Farsi book and film, satirises the view that the English are behind all significant events in Iran.In the 1960s and 1970s Britain backed the Shah as the “policeman” of the Gulf – and saw Iran as a lucrative market. British ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons famously reported to London that the Shah’s position was secure - as late as 1978. Many Iranians believed the BBC helped topple him and bring Ayatollah Khomeini to power the following year. Uncle Napoleon, a much-loved Farsi book and film, satirises the view that the English are behind all significant events in Iran.
Underlining this sense of hostility, Winston Churchill Avenue, parallel to Ferdowsi on the other side of the embassy, was renamed for Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker. In a similar anti-imperialist spirit other Tehran roads were dedicated to the assassin of Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian president, and, in 2008, to Imad Mughniyeh of Lebanon’s Hizbullah, killed by CIA and Mossad agents.Underlining this sense of hostility, Winston Churchill Avenue, parallel to Ferdowsi on the other side of the embassy, was renamed for Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker. In a similar anti-imperialist spirit other Tehran roads were dedicated to the assassin of Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian president, and, in 2008, to Imad Mughniyeh of Lebanon’s Hizbullah, killed by CIA and Mossad agents.
The 2011 assault came at the nadir of relations under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when hundreds of Basij protestors, the youth wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stormed the compound. The UK said the protesters had the backing of the Iranian regime. Buildings were burned and ransacked. Supplies from the embassy’s bar, the Lucky Parrot, were looted and found their way onto the Tehran black market. It was interesting, but of little comfort, that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, said later that it was the wrong thing to do. The 2011 assault came at the nadir of relations under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, when hundreds of Basij protestors, the youth wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stormed the compound. The UK said the protesters had the backing of the Iranian regime. Buildings were burned and ransacked. Supplies from the embassy’s bar, the Lazy Parrot, were looted and found their way onto the Tehran black market. It was interesting, but of little comfort, that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, said later that it was the wrong thing to do.
Britain withdrew its staff and expelled the Iranians from their London embassy in Princes Gate, Kensington. That building had a less colourful history but was famous for the siege involving Iraqi-backed separatist gunmen and the SAS assault in 1980.Britain withdrew its staff and expelled the Iranians from their London embassy in Princes Gate, Kensington. That building had a less colourful history but was famous for the siege involving Iraqi-backed separatist gunmen and the SAS assault in 1980.
British-Iranian tensions eased in 2013 after President Hassan Rouhani came to power. Since then relations have been managed in a sort of diplomatic half-life. Each country has a non-resident charge d’affaires who spends a week per month in the other’s capital. But nationals of both countries have experienced serious difficulties obtaining visas. Iranians, already suffering the effects of sanctions, have been forced to travel to the UAE or Turkey.British-Iranian tensions eased in 2013 after President Hassan Rouhani came to power. Since then relations have been managed in a sort of diplomatic half-life. Each country has a non-resident charge d’affaires who spends a week per month in the other’s capital. But nationals of both countries have experienced serious difficulties obtaining visas. Iranians, already suffering the effects of sanctions, have been forced to travel to the UAE or Turkey.
Yet in one area there has been a significant improvement. British journalists, including myself, have been able in recent weeks to visit Iran for the first time since the 2009 election, when Ahmadinejad began a second term and his opponents were placed under house arrest - where they remain to this day.Yet in one area there has been a significant improvement. British journalists, including myself, have been able in recent weeks to visit Iran for the first time since the 2009 election, when Ahmadinejad began a second term and his opponents were placed under house arrest - where they remain to this day.
It is still not easy. Visas are not issued in London and have to be obtained from Iranian missions in Paris or Dublin. That takes time and money. But there is a more welcoming atmosphere for the media - even though a Washington Post colleague, Jason Rezaian, is on trial for espionage and the BBC remains unwelcome. Still, official meetings can now be arranged in Tehran with relative ease and speed. Things are definitely looking up for diplomats and journalists. But a real rapprochement between these two old adversaries will only be possible when ordinary folk in both countries can feel the difference. It is still not easy. Visas are not issued in London and have to be obtained from Iranian missions in Paris or Dublin. That takes time and money. But there is a more friendly atmosphere for the media - even though a Washington Post colleague, Jason Rezaian, is on trial for espionage and the BBC remains unwelcome. Still, official meetings can now be arranged in Tehran with relative ease and speed. Things are definitely looking up for diplomats and journalists. But a real rapprochement between these two old adversaries will only be possible when ordinary folk in both countries can feel the difference.