UK ’Committed’ to Improving Ties with Iran

Local Editor

British Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated the Iranian nation on Persian New Year, expressing his country's commitment to further develop ties with Iran.

"As you reflect on the fundamental values of Nowruz [Persian New Year] - peace, solidarity and reconciliation - know that it is in the spirit of those values that the UK and Iran have taken important steps to develop our relationship over the past 12 months," Cameron said on Sunday.

"And both President Rouhani and I are committed to building on these ties for the benefit of us all," he noted.

In addition, he considered the implementation of the landmark Iran nuclear deal in January along with the resumption of diplomatic ties after a five-year break set the stage for the normalization of ties between the two countries.

Britain was part of the marathon nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations - which also involved the US, France, China, Russia and Germany.

The two countries officially resumed diplomatic ties in August 23, 2015, when British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond attended a symbolic ceremony marking the reopening of the UK embassy in Tehran after it was shut down in November 2011.

Hammond, too, congratulated Iranians on the Persian year on Sunday, hailing the improving relations between the two countries.

"I was delighted to be able to visit Iran in August last year to re-open our embassy, to welcome Minister Zarif to the UK in February, and most recently to restart our visa services in Tehran and London," Hammond added.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team