UK hopes to reopen Tehran embassy by year-end: Hammond

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has expressed hope that the UK and Iran could reopen their respective embassies in Tehran and London, a day after the successful conclusion of talks on the Iranian nuclear dossier.  

“I very much hope that we will be in a position to reopen our respective embassies before the end of this year,” Hammond said in the parliament on Wednesday while expressing hope for a visit to Tehran. 

Hammond’s remarks came one day after the conclusion of intensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 group over Tehran’s nuclear program.

In November 2011, Iranian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to downgrade diplomatic relations with London in response to Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran over the allegation that Tehran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear program.

Two days after the parliament’s move, hundreds of Iranian students staged a protest outside the British embassy in Tehran, pulling down the UK flag and demanding the expulsion of the British ambassador.

Following the incident, Downing Street announced that it is withdrawing its diplomatic staff from Iran and that the Iranian embassy in London would be closed.

Later in October 2013, the Islamic Republic and Britain agreed to appoint non-resident chargés d’affaires as a first step toward reopening their respective embassies.

The British foreign secretary further said that during the “difficult” nuclear negotiations, “all sides faced tough decisions,” adding, “A process that began over a decade ago, came to a conclusion. The result … is … a victory for diplomacy.”

Hammond also noted that he had spoken to British Finance Minister George Osborne regarding the country’s readiness to capitalize on the “quite substantial” business opportunities emerging as a result of the nuclear conclusion, saying that some 90 billion pounds (140 billion dollars) of Iranian assets could be released over time.

The top British diplomat also said he was heading to Israel later Wednesday to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about result of nuclear talks.

This is while Netanyahu, who has repeatedly expressed opposition to the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1, has described the nuclear conclusion as a “stunning, historic mistake.”

The outcome of talks on the Iranian nuclear case is viewed as a major blow to the regime in Tel Aviv, which had been lobbying intensely to throw a monkey wrench in the diplomatic efforts by Tehran and the six world powers.

Following 18 days of intensive talks in the Austrian capital city of Vienna over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany - reached a conclusion on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14.

Based on the nuclear conclusion, limits will be put on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of all economic and financial bans against Tehran.

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