§ 66. Mr. MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the restoration of normal diplomatic relations with Iran.
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State agreed with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 30 September in New York that full diplomatic representation would be restored in Tehran and London. Final agreement on the details was reached on 10 November. Her Majesty's embassy in Tehran has now re-opened under our own flag. Relations between the two countries will be conducted in accordance with the Vienna conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, to which both countries are signatories. The chargé d'affaires, Mr. Gordon Pirie, has had meetings with Iranian officials and gained consular access to the two712W British prisoners in Iran one of whom has now been released. This is a first step in developing a more constructive and businesslike relationship with Iran. We will consider the exchange of ambassadors in due course.