Britain begins process to fix ties with Iran, reopen embassies closed since 2011
( Sadly, it’s more than appropriate that the Western appeasement of Iran be commenced by the once great UK. Of course, they only do what the US approves of… Or orders. – JW )
Storming of British embassy in Tehran in November 2011 which caused breakdown of diplomatic ties Photo: REUTERS/Stringer
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday that Britain and Iran had embarked on a process that could lead to the reopening of their embassies after diplomatic relations broke down in 2011.
“Both our countries will now appoint a non-resident charge d’affaires tasked with implementing the building of relations, including interim steps on the way towards (the) eventual reopening of both our embassies,” Hague told parliament.
Addressing Iran’s disputed nuclear program, Hague said Tehran would need to make “substantive changes” to it if it wanted the West to ease sanctions, saying the future of British-Iranian relations would depend on tangible steps.
“Iran remains in defiance of six UN Security Council resolutions … and it is installing more centrifuges in its nuclear facilities,” said Hague.
“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.”
Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the election of President Hassan Rouhani earlier this year, but said ties remain strained because of the ransacking of the British Embassy in Tehran in 2011, an incident that led to one of the worst crises between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Britain closed its embassy in December 2011 after hardline Iranian youths stormed the building in Tehran. The British also expelled all Iranian diplomats from London at the time.
The storming of the embassy followed accusations from Washington of an Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador and a report from the UN nuclear watchdog suggesting Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
WarSclerotic 
October 8, 2013 at 8:24 PM
The western powers are weak and stupid. They believed two things:
1.They can compromise with the Iranian duplicity, and
2.Israel is a coward state.
The western powers are wrong on both those issues.
October 8, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Let it go Luis, the game is over….
October 8, 2013 at 10:13 PM
You mean here, or in general?
And I tell you this: no matter what our differences were in the past – and I’ll take advantage of this your entry for cleaning that – I think that it was interesting and constructive for this site, in a final and cool analysis. That’s one thing. The second thing is that you, me and others will shortly be witness to such events and surprises that we’ll meet here again, celebrating. Adieu, friend, for the time being.
October 9, 2013 at 6:07 AM
The world is either activly fighting Israel ( first of all the muslim world / wishing to wipe it out ) or passivly : the western world
with its love for money is eager to offer Israel on the altar of Mammon, hoping for big business as a reward for its repeated shameful cowardness. If only the world would check history, it would realise that all those fighting or abandoning Israel will fail for sure – but Israel will prevail thanks to its Guardian who ”never slumbers nor sleeps !” To fight the Guardian of Israel and his firstborn Israel is absolutely selfdestructive, as history shows. Its written that ”He who blesses Israel will be blessed – he who curses Israel will be cursed!”
You want to be blessed ? Then stand with the Nation of Israel ! You want to fail ? Then abandon or curse Israel ! The choice is yours, but you will have to take the consequences. Looking at the USA and Europe I think they took too many wrong choices and are facing the hard consequences. Whatever comes ( and I guess there’s quite something around the corner ), the Guardian of Israel is in full control and Israel is in HIS caring and strong hands !
October 9, 2013 at 9:07 AM
“It is written that ‘He who blesses Israel will be blessed – he who curses Israel will be cursed'”.
This verse is in this week’s Torah portion. It is part of God’s promise to Abraham. Interesting to note that the literral translation goes like this – ” I will bless those who bless you; and those who curse you I will curse.”
Note:
1) God promises to make this His own personal buisiness.
2) God’s blessing actually precedes that of Israel’s blessers, apparrently meaning that as soon as one intends to bless, God’s blessing will be upon you. By cursing, however, the opposite is true, so it pays to hold one’s tongue.
Thank you, wingate, for your encouragement.
October 10, 2013 at 10:32 PM
Perfidious Albion.
Here in the UK people honestly believe that they live in a democracy, despite the fact that nobody voted for our current plutocratic regime, it wasn’t on the ballot paper.
As far as blind faith goes, prove your “god” exists. They say that seeing is believing, they are wrong. Seeing is when belief stops and knowledge begins
October 10, 2013 at 10:49 PM
Did you ever see an atom?
Do you believe in the existence of atoms? If so, why?
October 26, 2013 at 1:28 PM
I’m going through old posts because sometimes I don’t a notification of replies.
To answer your question; Yes, through an electron microscope on a school field trip.