Britain to reopen Iran embassy

Britain is set to open its embassy in Tehran this weekend, nearly four years after it was stormed by an violent mob angry at imposition of economic sanctions over the country’s nuclear program, the Guardian reports.

Now with the embargo set be repealed in the wake of the nuclear deal, Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, will travel to the Islamic Republic to reopen England’s bureau in the Iranian capital.

The British embassy will be staffed initially by a cadre of diplomats — no ambassador has yet been appointed. Iran also downgraded its relations with London after the 2011 incident, and a parliament vote will be needed to fully restore bilateral ties. At the time Iranian MPs chanted “Death to Britain” as they passed that bill, the report added.

The last British foreign secretary to travel to Iran was Jack Straw in September 2001, after a brief reconciliation in ties between the Islamic Republic and the West after the 9/11 attacks left them both facing a common enemy, the Taliban.