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Britain in Talks with Iran about Restoring Relations

Britain in Talks with Iran about Restoring Relations
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Britain Foreign Secretary William Hague stressed that the talks with Iran have started with the aim at restoring diplomatic relations two years after an angry mob ransacked the British Embassy.

Britain in Talks with Iran about Restoring RelationsThe announcement reflects a significant thawing in Iran's relations with the West, which imposed tough economic sanctions on Tehran. It may raise hopes of a breakthrough in talks with world powers about its disputed nuclear program in Geneva next week.

Hague said there had been a "marked change" for the better in Iran's approach since Hassan Rowhani was elected president in June.
"Both our countries will now appoint a nonresident charge d'affaires tasked with implementing the building of relations, including interim steps on the way toward [the] eventual reopening of both our embassies," Hague told Parliament.

"Both our countries will now appoint a nonresident charge d'affaires tasked with implementing the building of relations, including interim steps on the way toward [the] eventual reopening of both our embassies," Hague told Parliament.
"It is clear that the new president and ministers in Iran are presenting themselves and their country in a much more positive way. We must test the Iranian government's sincerity to the full."

Hague told Parliament he had held two meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York in September and that junior officials from the two countries had met since.
"It is understood on both sides that given this history, progress in our bilateral relationship needs to proceed on a step-by-step and reciprocal basis," Hague told lawmakers.
"The foreign minister and I agreed our officials would meet to discuss this. The first such meeting has already taken place, and will be followed by a further meeting in Geneva next week."

Officials will discuss the numbers of local staff to be allowed to work in the embassies in each country, he said.

However, Hague said progress would depend on tangible changes rather than rhetoric and the West was unlikely to ease sanctions unless it saw real concessions on the nuclear issue.
"Iran remains in defiance of six UN Security Council resolutions ... and it is installing more centrifuges in its nuclear facilities," he said.
"In the absence of substantial change to these policies, we will continue to maintain strong sanctions. A substantial change in British or Western policies requires a substantive change in that program."

Its next round of talks with the so-called P5+1 - the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany - is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Oct. 15-16.
"It is clear that the new president and ministers in Iran are presenting themselves and their country in a much more positive way. We must test the Iranian government's sincerity to the full."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 



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