Britain, Iran reopen embassies in wake of nuclear deal

Britain's foreign secretary reopened his country's embassy in Tehran today in a long-awaited step signalling better relations four years after a mob stormed the compound, forcing its closure.
Philip Hammond's two-day trip comes five weeks after Britain and five other world powers struck a deal with Iran to end a 13-year dispute over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
He led a ceremony in the embassy garden with Ajay Sharma, the new charge d'affaires who will represent Britain in Tehran, where the British flag was raised.
But the opening did not pass without incident as reporters spotted a "Death to England" slogan still scrawled in red paint on a door at the embassy residence.

Anti-British slogans were also chanted hours later by around 40 protesters outside, 10 of whom were arrested, the official IRNA news agency said, and hundreds of anti-riot police were on duty.
Iran's embassy in London also reopened today. The two nations are expected to appoint ambassadors within months.

Hammond, the first British foreign secretary to visit Iran since Jack Straw in 2003, described the violence in 2011 as "a low point" but said a new journey was beginning.
"Over the coming months, we will work to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by making sure that it is fully implemented by all sides," he said at the reopening.

"Through this embassy's efforts we will support British trade and investment, once sanctions are lifted. That will bring benefits for Britain and the Iranian people."
He later held a press conference with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's foreign minister and lead negotiator in the near two years of nuclear talks that have ended Tehran's isolation from the West.
"We have come a long way but let's walk first and try to run later," Hammond said, again noting that bringing the nuclear deal into force and building confidence was the priority.
"It will be a process of evolution to overcome the deficit of trust."

Zarif welcomed Hammond's visit, saying Iran was intent on using dialogue to tackle disagreements and address the troubles of the Middle East in what was a "restart" in relations with Britain.
"This region is faced with serious problems," he said alluding to the spread of the Islamic State jihadist group in Syria and Iraq.
"This requires a different approach. Iran is prepared to engage with all our neighbours. We need to start cooperation, not on a zero sum game but for mutual gain.