Rouhani urges efforts to rebuild Iran-Britain ties

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday called for efforts to rebuild ties between Iran and Britain to "an acceptable level".

"The officials of both countries have a greater responsibility to reconstruct the ties to an acceptable level based on mutual trust," Rouhani told visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, according to a report posted on the website of the Iranian presidency.

Hammond was in Tehran for the reopening of the British embassy on Sunday. Iran also reopened its mission in London.

Rouhani said that the Iran nuclear deal was an introduction for better relations between Tehran and London.

"We consider the (nuclear) deal as the beginning of the move for improvement in international and regional arena," he said, referring to the comprehensive agreement over Iran's nuclear issue reached in July with six world powers, including Britain.

Rouhani said Tehran and London should harness the emerging climate for the expansion of all-out cooperation, developing political and economic relations, cooperation on research and scientific programmes and working together to solve regional and international issues.

The Iranian president also urged the signatories of the nuclear deal to remain committed to their obligations, saying that "Iran will also remain bound to its voluntary commitments envisaged in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, since Iran has been determined on not pursuing nuclear arms."

As for regional issues, Rouhani emphasised joint cooperation between Iran and Britain against terrorism, extremism and on political mechanisms to solve the conflicts in the Middle East.