Britain and Iran move to repair strained relations

In an effort to repair long-strained relations, Britain and Iran are each appointing a charge d'affaires, a step below ambassador rank, to work toward resuming full diplomatic ties. The diplomats will remain in their respective countries, but will discuss reopening embassies in London and Tehran.

Relations between the two countries were downgraded to the lowest level short of a formal break in 2011 after protesters in Tehran attacked the British embassy.

The move to restore relations came after British Foreign Secretary William Hague met new Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif last month at the United Nations. The two men spoke on the phone on Monday, Hague told Parliament on Tuesday. "I've made very clear to Mr Zarif that we are open to more direct contact and further improvements in our bilateral relations," Hague said.

The new Iranian government of President Hassan Rowhani has spoken of greater openness to the West as Tehran prepares for new negotiations next week with members of the UN Security Council on Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

Iran appears eager to find a way to encourage the US and the Europeans to lift harsh economic sanctions, imposed in response to Iran's flouting of UN resolutions calling on it to halt the enrichment of uranium and comply with International Atomic Energy Agency demands for full disclosure of its nuclear activities.