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Iran

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Last reviewed: 19 March 2009

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Iran have been cut off and restored several times since the 1979 Revolution.

Iran's relations with most countries improved following the reformist President Khatami's election 1997. United Kingdom/Iran relations were fully restored after Iran gave assurances in 1998 that it had no intention of threatening the life of Salman Rushdie. The UK and Iran exchanged Ambassadors in 1999.

The UK wants Iran to be a secure and prosperous country, co-operating with and respected by the international community, but we will maintain a robust dialogue on issues of concern.  These issues include human rights and fundamental freedoms, Iran's nuclear programme, and Iran's support for terrorism and for groups seeking to undermine regional security.  As the Foreign Secretary said on 5 December 2007, “Iran has the potential to be one of the world’s great nations. It enjoys enormous advantages. Its people should be reaping the benefit of these to the full, not seeing their country treated as an international exile. There is a clear choice facing the Iranian leadership. On the one hand, a transformed relationship with the international community, including the US, bringing political, economic and technological benefits. On the other, further isolation. No one can make this choice for Iran’s leaders. But I hope they have the foresight and inspiration to make the right one for their people, who deserve no less.”

In June 2002 European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers agreed to the negotiation of a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) between Iran and the EU.  Negotiations were suspended in June 2003 due to EU concern over Iran's nuclear programme.  In light of the IAEA's resolution on 24 September 2005 (supported by further regular statements, most recently 19 February 2009), finding Iran non-compliant with its safeguards agreements, there are no plans at the moment for further negotiating on the TCA or parallel negotiations on a Political Agreement.  This confirms the EU's readiness to explore ways to further develop political and economic co-operation with Iran, once Iran has taken action to address the concerns of the EU.

United States/Iran relations have not formally been restored since they were broken off in 1980.  In January 2002 President Bush referred to Iran as part of an 'Axis of Evil' and in 2006 the Iran Freedom Support Act imposed sanctions for a further five years.  On 28 May 2007 US and Iranian Ambassadors to Iraq met to discuss Iraq, together with senior members of the Iraqi government.  They have since met again in July and August 2007.  We welcomed these meetings which were the first official meetings between the US and Iranian Governments since 1980.  On 25 October 2007 US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice said she remained ready to meet her Iranian counterpart 'anytime, anywhere, to discuss any issue' as soon as Iran had complied with its international obligations and suspended its enrichment programme.

On the possibility of military action against Iran, whilst the United Kingdom, along with the rest of the international community, is deeply concerned by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, we are committed, together with the E3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US) to a twin-track approach, intended to apply pressure on Iran to persuade it to engage in negotiations on a long-term agreement which would address the concerns of the international community over Iran's nuclear programme. The Foreign Secretary said on 27 February 2009  that “the UK is committed to working with our international partners to help meet the challenge. Our intention is to develop a mechanism for the assured supply of nuclear fuel to states seeking nuclear energy, without the need to further develop their own domestic enrichment and reprocessing programmes.”

Iran's relations with Iraq have not fully recovered from the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). However, during the 2003 Iraq conflict, Iran declared itself neutral.  Whilst criticising military action, Iran made a commitment to remain outside the conflict.  Iran says that it wants to work towards a stable and cohesive Iraq and is working with the Iraqi authorities in a number of areas such as border control and power supply.  Iran hosted a conference on 30 November 2004, to discuss security in Iraq, ways to help the Iraqis stage their general election on schedule, and counter- insurgency.  Interior Ministers and security officials from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt participated.  Iran also participated in the Sharm el Sheikh Iraq Neighbours Meeting on 4 May 2007, which resulted in an agreement to establish three neighbours’ working groups on security, refugees and food supplies.  On 2 March 2008 President Ahmadinejad visited Baghdad.  The Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister visited Tehran in 2006 and 2007.

However, we are gravely concerned that Iran is also providing explosives, detonators and training to the Shi'a militia who are engaged in operations against United Nations forces in Iraq.  Any Iranian links to armed groups in Iraq outside the political process, either through supply of weapons, training or funding, are unacceptable.  They undermine Iran's proclaimed long-term interest in a secure, stable and democratic Iraq.

Elsewhere in the region, Iran publicly expresses its support for stability in Afghanistan, having suffered from the Afghan civil war and then the Taliban.  Iran has pledged $560m over five years to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.  The two countries have developed good counter-narcotics co-operation.  But evidence exists of arms supplies to the Taleban originating in Iran, which is a worrying development.

Iran does not accept the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians.  Iranian leaders have argued that Israel's existence is illegitimate, because it came about as a result of the destruction of Palestine.  Iran continues to hold a vehement anti-Israel stance and President Ahmadinejad has made several provocative statements including calling for Israel to be “wiped off the map”.  Iran has been very critical of the Middle East Peace Process and we are concerned at the material and political support which groups undermining peace in the Middle East through violence draw from within Iran.

Cultural relations with the UK

The British Council suspended its operations in Iran on 31 January 2009 Please visit www.britishcouncil.org for further details.

A seminar took place in March 2002 to bring together academic and faith leaders to hold an inter-faith dialogue as part of the Dialogue Among Civilisations.  The Dialogue was an initiative proposed by former President Khatami, and adopted by the UN for the year 2001, aimed at strengthening understanding between different peoples and cultures.  This is a theme which the UK endorses, and indeed the UK as a member of the EU supported Iran's successful bid at the UN to have the Dialogue extended.

An exhibition of contemporary British sculpture was shown at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art throughout March and April 2004.  The British Council was responsible for organising this first exhibition of British art ever to be seen in the Islamic Republic, covering developments in British sculpture during the 20th century. 

In late 2005, the British Museum, in co-operation with the Iran Heritage Foundation, and by way of loans from the National Museum of Iran, held a four month long 'Forgotten Empire-the world of Ancient Persia Exhibition'.  In September 2006 the British Council participated in the 1st Persia Education and Training Exhibition (PETEX) which attracted thousands of young Iranians to Tehran.  The objectives of the exhibition were to exchange knowledge and experience between Iranian and foreign educational institutes and create a synergy and partnership between centres.

On 19 February 2009 the British Museum’s ‘Shah ‘Abbas: The Remaking of Iran’ exhibition opened.  The exhibition, showcasing many artefacts in the UK for the first time, will run until 14 June 2009.

Visits

The Foreign Affairs Committee visited Iran in November 2007 as part of their work on the report 'Global Security: Iran', which was published in March 2008.  The FAC had previously visited in October 2003.

Saeed Jalili, then Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe, visited the UK in September 2007. Jalili visited the UK again in November 2007 as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.

Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister, visited the UK in January 2006 to attend an international conference on Afghanistan.

In June 2006 the British Group of the Inter Parliamentary Union visited Iran.

Eshaq Jahangiri, former Minister of Industries and Mines, visited the UK in November 2004.

Prince Charles visited Iran in February 2004 in his capacity as the Patron of the British Red Cross. The visit was a demonstration of the concern for the people of Iran following the tragic earthquake in Bam.

Former Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi visited the UK in February 2003 and April 2004.

Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw visited Tehran on 25 September 2001.  One of the main aims of his visit was to discuss the international fight against terrorism following the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in the US on 11 September. He paid four more visits to Iran, the last in October 2003.

In February 2001, Mo Mowlam became the first British Cabinet Minister to visit Iran since the revolution. The visit centred on efforts to curb drug trafficking from Afghanistan through Iran and into Europe, in part through signing a Memorandum of Understanding on drugs issues.

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Iran

Address:

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran
16 Prince's Gate
London SW7 1PT

Consular Section:
50 Kensington Court
London W8 5DB

Telephone:

(020) 7225 3000
(020) 7937 5225 Consular

Fax:

(020) 7589 4440
(020) 7938 1615 Consular

Website: www.iran-embassy.org.uk