Iran’s new ambassador to the UK is going to take office on Tuesday.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for International and Legal Affairs Mohsen Baharvand has been appointed as the Islamic Republic’s new ambassador to London.
He is replacing Hamid Baeedinejad, who has served in the post since September 2016.
According to Iran’s charge d' affairs at the Embassy in the UK, Hosseini Matin, the new ambassador will arrive in London on Sunday, July 4.
Baharvand will reportedly assume his diplomatic duties on Tuesday after presenting his letter of credence to Queen of the UK, Elizabeth II.
Iran and Britain named their new ambassadors to London and Tehran in September 2016 after a long period of severed ties.
Iran-Britain ties soured in 2011. On November 27, 2011, a large majority of Iranian lawmakers voted to downgrade diplomatic ties with Britain, following Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran.
Later, angry Iranian students stormed the British embassy in Tehran and pulled down the European country’s flag.
Following the incident, Britain withdrew its diplomatic staff from Tehran in late November 2011 and asked Iran’s diplomatic delegation in London to leave within 48 hours.
The two countries made diplomatic efforts afterwards to amend ties.
In August 2015, the British embassy in Iran reopened after a 4-year closure. Britain’s then Foreign Secretary Hammond attended a ceremony in Tehran to mark the reopening on August 23. It was the first visit by a British foreign secretary to Iran since 2003.
Simultaneously, Iran’s embassy in London also reopened.
