UK, Iran renew diplomatic ties
Britain names Ajay Sharma charge d’affaires ahead of resumption of embassy activities
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Britain appointed a non-resident chargé d’affaires to Iran Monday, ending a two-year-long stalemate in the two countries’ diplomatic relations.
The British Foreign Office announced that Ajay Sharma, the head of the Iran department and a former deputy head of mission to Tehran, would assume the position immediately.
Iranian and British diplomats began discussing the restoration of ties during the UN General Assembly meeting in September. Last month, British Foreign Secretary William Hague proposed in a phone call with counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif that the two countries appoint non-resident chargés d’affaires.
Iranian-British relations took a downturn in November 2011 when Britain decided to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran over the country’s rogue nuclear program.
Very pleased to have been appointed non-resident Chargé d’affaires to #Iran. Look forward to constructive dialogue on bilateral agenda.
— Ajay Sharma (@AjaySharmaFCO) November 11, 2013
First, Iranian lawmakers voted by a large majority to downgrade ties with the UK, and two days later, hundreds of Iranian students protested outside the British Embassy in Tehran, pulling down the British flag. The next day, London withdrew its diplomatic staff from Iran and the Iranian embassy in London was closed.
Since the incident, British interests in Iran were represented by the local Swedish embassy, and Iranian interests in London by the embassy of Oman.
Iran and world powers, including the UK, were reportedly on the verge of a landmark deal on Iran’s nuclear program Saturday night, but the negotiations fell apart at the last minute, reportedly due to objections by France to the proposed agreement. The sides are to meet again on November 20.
The Times of Israel Community.