TEHRAN, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Britain have not decided to upgrade their ties to the ambassador level, a top Iranian Foreign Ministry official said according to a Press TV report on Wednesday.
Relations between Tehran and London would stand at the level of current non-resident charge d'affaires until more bilateral agreements are reached, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi said on Tuesday.

"As to when we would change non-resident charge d'affaires to resident ones and then to ambassadors depends on the decisions made by both sides. But at the moment, there is no talk of changing the level (of diplomatic relations) to the ambassador level,"Takht-e-Ravanchi was quoted as saying.

Iran has already opened part of its embassy in London, rendering consular services to Iranian citizens in the UK, he added.

Takht-e-Ravanchi's remark was a response to British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who said Tuesday that "circumstances are right" for opening of British embassy in Iran.

In November 2011, thousands of angry Iranian demonstrators broke into British embassy compounds following Iran's decision to downgrade its diplomatic ties with Britain in response to its imposed financial sanctions against Tehran.

In retaliation, Britain withdrew its diplomats from Iran, shut down its embassy in Tehran, ordered the immediate closure of the Iranian embassy in London and demanded that all its staff leave Britain.

In November 2013, Britain and Iran appointed non-resident charges d'affaires to each other, in an attempt to gradually revive their diplomatic ties.

By Global Post

 

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