Britain and Iran reopen embassies in Tehran & London

World Today

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, left, speaks during a press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond reopened the British Embassy in Tehran on Sunday, nearly four years after it was closed following an attack by hard-liners. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

With the British national anthem playing in the background, Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond said the opening of the embassy with the formal raising of the UK’s Union flag represented the start of a new phase in relations between the countries.

Britain has operated without an embassy in Tehran since protestors stormed the building four years ago in protest against sanctions.

The two main diplomatic compounds were ransacked and looted. Anti British graffiti remains daubed on the walls.
CCTV’s Richard Bestic filed this report from London.