Iran rules out diplomatic ties with ‘illogical’ US

Amid the fanfare of Britain reopening its embassy in Tehran after four years, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Sunday it was too early for a similar advance in ties with the US because of the country’s “illogical attitude,” Reuters reported.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the British mission, Zarif said “the situation is different with the US,” and that “there needs to be a change in that kind of attitude and behavior on the part of the US.”

The US embassy in Tehran was sacked in 1979 starting a hostage crisis that lasted for 444 days and diplomatic ties between the two countries have been severed every since.

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On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was on hand to reopen the UK embassy four years after a mob stormed the compound, forcing its closure.

The diplomatic thaw comes five weeks after Britain and five other world powers struck a deal with Iran to end a 13-year dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Hammond led a ceremony in the embassy garden alongside Ajay Sharma, the new charge d’affaires who will represent Britain in Tehran.

Zarif welcomed Hammond’s visit, saying Iran was intent on using dialogue to tackle disagreements and address the troubles of the Middle East in what was a “restart” in relations with Britain.

“This region is faced with serious problems,” he said alluding to the spread of the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria and Iraq.

“This requires a different approach. Iran is prepared to engage with all our neighbours. We need to start cooperation, not on a zero sum game but for mutual gain.”

But the opening did not pass without incident as reporters spotted a “Death to England” slogan still scrawled in paint on a wall at the embassy.

Four-year-old graffiti reading ‘Death to England’ is seen above a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at the British embassy in Tehran as it reopened on August 23, 2015, for the first time since November 2011 riots. (screen capture: Channel 2)

Anti-British slogans were also chanted hours later by around 40 protesters outside, 10 of whom were arrested, the official IRNA news agency said, and hundreds of anti-riot police were on duty.

Iran’s embassy in London also reopened on Sunday. The two nations are expected to appoint ambassadors within months.

Hammond, the first British foreign secretary to visit Iran since Jack Straw in 2003, described the violence in 2011 as “a low point” but said a new journey was beginning.

“Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by making sure that it is fully implemented by all sides,” he said at the reopening.

“Through this embassy’s efforts we will support British trade and investment, once sanctions are lifted. That will bring benefits for Britain and the Iranian people.”

European officials have been quick to visit Iran since July 14, when the nuclear accord with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States was announced in Vienna.

The deal will see the lifting of economic sanctions — imposed as punishment over Iran’s nuclear program — in exchange for curbs and a new inspections regime.

Plans to reopen the UK embassy were announced in June last year.

Hammond follows his Italian, French and German counterparts who all visited Iran after the nuclear deal.

The nuclear deal is undergoing a bruising review in the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has vowed to veto any vote against the historic agreement.