The deputy foreign minister has said the British prime minister's recent remarks about Iran cannot overshadow the ongoing process of restoring diplomatic ties with Britain.
Hassan Qashqavi said such "inappropriate" remarks by Cameron do not run counter to diplomatic talks, the Mehr news agency.
In his address to the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Tehran and London have severe disagreements on Iran’s alleged support for terrorist organizations, its nuclear program, and its treatment of its people.
Lawmakers on Sunday issued a statement condemning Cameron's speech and his reference to Iran as "insulting".
In November 2011, London cut off its ties with Tehran, withdrew its diplomatic staff from Iran and the Iranian embassy in London was closed.
The move came after angry students stormed the British embassy in Tehran in protest at Britain's policy on Iran. The parliament had earlier voted in favor of downgrading diplomatic relations with Britain.
Nearly two years later in October 2013, the two countries agreed to appoint non-resident chargés d’affaires as a first step toward reopening their respective embassies.
"Iran and Britain have never severed their diplomatic ties and even the Majlis does not say anything about such course of action." Qashqavi said.
