(VOVworld) – A British Foreign spokesperson said Thursday “The UK has agreed with Iran that from February 20th bilateral relations will be conducted directly through non-resident Charges d'Affaires and officials, in lieu of through intermediaries". Despite this announcement, British and Iranian embassies will remain closed until their governments decide to upgrade to full diplomatic status.
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Iran's flag hangs outside the Iranian embassy in London after the UK and Iran resumed their diplomatic ties. (Photo: AFP)
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Iran-UK diplomatic relations were downgraded in November 2011, after the British embassy in Tehran was stormed by a mob, which triggered the British to withdraw its entire diplomatic mission in Iran. After the diplomatic crisis, the two countries contacts with each other were conducted under the Protecting Power Arrangement in which Oman hosted Iran's interests in London, while Sweden acted for the UK in Tehran.
Since Hassan Rouhani took office as Iran's new president, Britain and Iran have improved their bilateral ties and taken significant steps towards reopening their missions. Most worthy of note was a phone call by British Prime Minister David Cameron and Iranian president Rouhani last November.