The British Foreign Office on Wednesday modified its travel advice on Iran on its website, removing a recommendation that warned against travelling to Iran.
The new advice only warns British nationals to avoid travelling to “eastern Iran, including the Afghan and Pakistani borders.”
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague also announced the modification in the travel recommendation while addressing the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee in the British capital, London, on Wednesday.
Hague also said, “We will respond in good faith to positive action by Iran,” adding, “We are ready to improve our relations on a step-by-step basis.”
Earlier on July 4, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw welcomed the election of Hassan Rohani 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.
Rohani won Iran’s June 14 presidential election, garnering 50.7 percent of a total of 36,704,156 ballots.
Rohani, who will be inaugurated as Iran’s new president on August 4, said last month he will seek “constructive interaction” with the world through a moderate policy after he takes office.
Commenting on the remarks by Straw, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi said on Tuesday that “Mr. Straw has not submitted an official request; but, since Iranians are famous for hospitality, we would be glad to receive anyone interested in travelling to Iran.”
Stating that Iran had not favored the severance of diplomatic relations with the UK, Araqchi said London should be the side to take the initiative in resuming relations with Tehran if measures are to be taken to reestablish bilateral ties.
