British Foreign Minister Praises Reopening of UK Embassy in Tehran

Earlier in the day, Britain reopened its embassy in Tehran, four years after it had been closed. Hammond who attended the ceremony has become the first top British diplomat to visit the Islamic Republic since 2003. The Iranian embassy in London resumed it work at the same time.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Sunday praised the reopening of the British embassy in Iran as it would help maintain the dialogue between the two countries.

The embassies serve as "important practical channels" to engage on "many issues we have shared interests," Hammond said at a press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif as quoted by Press TV broadcaster.

The dialogue between the two countries should be maintained despite disagreements on some issues, the UK foreign minister added.

"Iran is and will remain a very important country in a strategically [important] but volatile region," the minister said as quoted by the broadcaster.