“If the British side expresses its willingness… we are prepared to hold talks and put things back on the right track to serve the interests of both nations,” Zarif said in an interview with IRNA on Tuesday.
Earlier on July 4, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw welcomed the election of Hassan Rouhani as Iran’s new president and said, “What I have been urging the government is that we do our best to reengage with Iranians, because there is a chance now that we can.” He also expressed willingness to travel to Iran to help restore Tehran-London ties.
The Iranian foreign minister said that the Tehran-London relationship is not in a “satisfactory condition” and should be improved.
Commenting on a decision by Iran’s Majlis to downgrade ties with Britain, the top Iranian said, “We are mandated to observe the country’s domestic law,” adding that the government respects the decisions made by Majlis.
The decisions adopted by Majlis will definitely be implemented, he noted.
On November 27, 2011, Iranian lawmakers voted by a large majority to downgrade diplomatic ties with the UK, in response to Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran over the false allegation that Tehran's nuclear program may include a covert military agenda.
On November 30, London withdrew its diplomatic staff from Iran and the Iranian mission in London also returned to the Islamic Republic.
