Britain to Reopen Embassy in Iran

William Hague has announced that Britain's embassy in Iran will be reopened as the West looks to Tehran to help ease the crisis in neighbouring Iraq.

The Foreign Secretary said the "circumstances are right" to restore the diplomatic base after a significant thawing in relations over recent months.

"Our two primary concerns when considering whether to reopen our embassy in Tehran have been assurance that our staff would be safe and secure, and confidence that they would be able to carry out their functions without hindrance," Mr Hague told MPs in a written statement.

"There has never been any doubt in my mind that we should have an embassy in Tehran if the circumstances allowed.

"Iran is an important country in a volatile region, and maintaining embassies around the world, even under difficult conditions, is a central pillar of the UK's global diplomatic approach...

"I have therefore now decided the circumstances are right to reopen our embassy in Tehran."