Remaining in the international nuclear pact with Iran is today the pivotal point of Tehran-London relations, the British ambassador in Tehran said.
Speaking at a meeting with the governor general of Fars Province in Shiraz on Saturday, Rob Macaire said his country will continue its efforts to ensure that Iran can enjoy the benefits of the nuclear accord, especially in economic sectors.
"Although adherence to the deal has had political consequences for Britain, we will stay the course because we believe we should remain committed to what we have signed and implement it," Macaire was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Iran and the six world powers struck a nuclear deal in 2015, which the United States abandoned in May unilaterally and restored its sanctions against Tehran. The remaining parties, particularly the European Union, have been making efforts to salvage the accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, by devising mechanisms to safeguard Iran's interests.
The British ambassador also said the UK has tried to improve its relations with Iran since its embassy reopened in 2015 after four years of closure.
First Step
The first step to be considered along this line, according to Macaire, is to improve commercial relations and engage in the supply of essential goods, including medicine, food and any item related to safety and human life.
"If we take trade as a river and the sanctions as a dam across it, these measures and initial steps are then cracks with which we can gradually break the dam," he said.
Governor General of Fars Province Esmaeil Tabadar expressed pleasure at Europe's attitude toward JCPOA, saying the US unfaithfulness will definitely be recorded in history.
"We expect that Britain and other European states stick to all aspects of the deal so that it can serve as a model for international pacts among other countries," he said.
Tabadar hoped that Iran-Britain relations would grow stronger than ever in the spirit of mutual respect.
