UK and Iran agree to re-establish direct diplomatic relations
Source: The Guardian
The green, white, red tricolour flag of the Islamic republic rose over Iran's embassy in London on Thursday as the UK and Tehran restored direct diplomatic contacts through non-resident chargé d'affaires rather than via third-country intermediaries.
As Iran and six world powers including Britain agreed on a framework for further nuclear talks in Vienna, the foreign office announced that Sweden will cease to represent the UK interest section in Iran because London and Tehran were re-establishing direct diplomatic ties.
"The UK has agreed with Iran that from today bilateral relations will be conducted directly through non-resident Charges d'Affaires and officials," said a foreign office spokesperson. "We will no longer have formal Protecting Power arrangements in place. This is the next stage of the step-by-step process of taking forward our bilateral relationship with Iran."
Under the power arrangements, Oman was hosting Iran's interest section in London, while Sweden acted for the UK in Tehran. "We will no longer have Protecting Powers acting as intermediaries. Diplomatic contact will now be made direct between our two countries. Sweden will cease to be the UK's Protecting Power on 20 February 2014. Oman will cease to be Iran's Protecting Power in the UK," the spokesperson said.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/20/uk-iran-direct-diplomatic-relations
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