Iran reopens embassy in London, while FM Hammond at CBI in Tehran

Flag of the Islamic Republic flies again at the embassy at Kensington, West London in the UK

According to the Guardian:

Iranians celebrated the long-awaited reopening of their London embassy on Sunday with Qur’anic verses, soft drinks, expressions of florid goodwill and relentless hopes for a better future for the often stormy relationship between the Islamic Republic and the UK.

Taking its cue from the parallel ceremony in Tehran, the event at the Iranian ambassador’s residence in Kensington was long on formal expressions of mutual respect and short on matters of substance or contention.

Mehdi Danesh-Yazdi, one of Iran’s deputy foreign ministers, set the tone with a call for relations based on mutual respect and good faith. He also called for a new era of cooperation following last month’s landmark nuclear deal and the steadily improving atmosphere between the two governments since a 2011 attack on the British embassy.

British Foreign Secretary met with the President of the Central Bank of Iran IRNA-Tehran, "Philip Hammond," British Foreign Secretary Vhyat building Sunday afternoon with the central bank, "but Ali Saif," said the head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran was discussed.

British and Iranian officials present on 23AUG15 at the reopened Iranian embassy in London

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his British counterpart Philip Hammond (L) shake hands during a joint press conference on 23AUG15 in Tehran.

British and Iranian officials present at a conference on 23AUG15 at the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran

According to Press TV:

Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) says two Iranian banks will start operating in Britain soon, increasing the number of Iranian banks active in the UK to four.

Speaking to IRNA following a meeting with the visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in Tehran on Sunday, Valiollah Seif noted that the two banks include the London branch of Bank Melli Iran and the Persia International Bank.

Building of the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, as seen on 23AUG15

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

UK Reopens Embassy in Tehran

Nearly four years after protesters stormed the British embassy in Iran, triggering outrage in Britain and closure of the embassy, Britain is restoring its diplomatic presence in Tehran. 

UK Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said he was “delighted” to be in Tehran for the reopening of the embassy. Hammond’s visit to Tehran is the first British ministerial visit in more than a decade.

Iran also reopened its embassy in London today, in a coordinated move reflecting improved relations between the two countries.

“Iran is, and will remain, an important country in a strategically important but volatile region. Maintaining dialogue around the world, even under difficult conditions, is critical,” Hammond said in a speech in Tehran marking the reopening of the embassy.

“Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by making sure that is fully implemented by all sides, and through this embassy’s efforts we will support British trade and investment, once sanctions are lifted. That will bring benefit for Britain and the Iranian people,” Hammond said. (CNN, 23 August)

Photo credit: UK Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond arriving at Mehrabad airport in Tehran to preside over the reopening of the British embassy; 23 August 2015 (Darren staples/Reuters)

Britain ‘Not Optimistic’ on Nuclear Deal

UPDATE: Reaching Final Deal Difficult - Blinken

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, speaking during a visit to Latvia, said today the most to be hoped for in the nuclear talks was enough progress to justify an extension of Monday’s deadline.

“I am not optimistic that we can get everything done by Monday,” Hammond said. “But I think if we make significant movement, we may be able to find a way of extending the deadline to allow us to get to the final deal, if we are making good progress in the right direction.” (AFP, 19 November)

“There will need to be some considerable further flexibility shown by the Iranian negotiators over the next four or five days if we are going to get to that deal,” Hammond added.

Meantime in Washington, Deputy National Security Advisor Tony Blinken told Congress on Wednesday that reaching a comprehensive deal with Iran by Monday’s deadline will be difficult, although not impossible.

“Right now, I think it’s going to difficult to get to where we want to go. It’s not impossible,” Blinken said. (AP, 19 November)

Blinken made the comments during his confirmation hearing to become the next deputy secretary of state.  He put the onus on Tehran to achieve an agreement.

Reaching a deal “depends entirely on whether Iran is willing to take the steps it must take to convince us, to convince our partners, that its program would be for entirely peaceful purposes,” Blinken said. “As we speak, we’re not there.”

File photo: British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (The Guardian)

British defense minister points to Europe's military power projection into the Persian Gulf

According to the Associated Press:

In London, Britain's Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said his country was ready to strengthen its military presence in the Gulf if needed.

The U.S.-led convoy of warships now in the Gulf — which included Britain's HMS Argyll frigate and France's frigate La Motte Picquet [sic] — sent "a clear signal about the resolve of the international community to defend the right of free passage through international waters," Hammond told reporters.

"We also maintain mine-counter measures vessels in the Gulf, which are an important part of the overall allied presence there, and of course the U.K. has a contingent capability to reinforce that presence should at any time it be considered necessary to do so," he added...

Hammond declined to offer specific details on what forces are currently in the Gulf, but said it had about 1,500 Navy personnel in the region east of Suez, which includes the Middle East and Indian Ocean, and a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

Four anti-mine vessels are based out of Bahrain, which is also the base for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. Britain also has two frigates — including HMS Argyll — three support ships, a survey vessel and one hunter-killer nuclear submarine in the region, the ministry said.

Last year, the U.K. created a Response Force Task Group — drawn from a pool of warships and marines — that can be deployed at short notice.

In Paris, French military spokesman Col. Thierry Burkhard said the French warship, which specializes in countering submarine attacks, has since separated from the British and American vessels, but remains on a "presence mission" in the Gulf.

France doesn't have plans to deploy more forces to the zone, said Burkhard, noting that France has a small base in the United Arab Emirates, which currently houses six Rafale warplanes and about 650 troops, including an infantry battalion.

HMS Argyll (F 231) Duke class (Type 23) frigate (FFGHM)

La Motte-Picquet (D 645) Georges Leygues class destroyer

(Type F 70 (ASW)) (DDGHM)

Photos: Wikipedia