Former UK Minister To Visit Tehran Early January, 2014

Tehran, Dec 28, IRNA – A British parliamentary delegation headed by the former foreign secretary Jack Straw is to visit Iran early January, 2014, an official said. Iran's non-resident Charge Daffaires in Britain Mohammad Hassan Habibollah-Zadeh said that delegation comprises four members of Iran Friendship Group in the British Parliament. according to the official, the parliamentary team will stay in Tehran on a three-day official visit. Meanwhile, head of Iran-Britain Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Iranian parliament Abbasali Mansouri-Arani announced that the British delegation is scheduled to meet with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi and a number of other Iranian officials. He further refered to the talks between the two countries foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly during which the two underscored the step by step policy for to resumption of ties. Habibollah-Zadeh said though the re-opening of embassies in Tehran and London is one major steps towards re-establishment of ties, the two sides needed to come to agreement on certain issues beforehand. Stating that non-resident and resident charge daffaires are not different in nature and in terms of the authority they hold, he added that non-resident status may change into resident after the outstanding issues are solved./end