Britain restores mission in Iran, but ‘too early to talk about US return’

Iran’s foreign minister said yesterday that it was too early to talk of reopening the US embassy in Tehran, as Britain restored its diplomatic mission four years after protesters ransacked the British ambassador’s residence.

British foreign secretary Philip Hammond attended a ceremony at the opulent 19th century building in the Iranian capital where attackers in 2011 burned Britain’s national flag, slashed portraits of British monarchs, and stole goods.

Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, asked if Tehran would now countenance a restoration of the US diplomatic mission, said America’s “illogical attitude” towards Iran meant the time was not ripe for a similar move with Washington.