Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 21
By Dalga Khatinoglu -- Trend:
An expert said that the reopening of the UK Embassy in Tehran is rather economically-motivated than politically so.
The UK wants to rebuild ties with Iran as fast as possible, Mehrdad Emadi, consultant at the U.K.-based Betamatrix International Consultancy told Trend August 21.
"That is because Britain has made the least attempt in comparison to the other three major European economies to rebuild relations with Iran and seek a footing in the country," he added.
"In the past 20 months, Britain undertook a policy of waiting, in fact, while delegations from Germany, Austria, and France have been busy all the time. They have sent delegations to Tehran and invited Iranian officials to their countries."
"Therefore, the visit by UK Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond to Tehran is not only to reopen the embassy, but above that, it shows the significance of Iran as an investment opportunity and a market to sell capital goods in a highly attractive market," Emadi said.
Hammond is slated to travel to Iran on August 23 to reopen the UK Embassy which has been closed for four years.
The embassy was closed by the British government after Iranian students stormed the buildings and pulled down the British flag.
The action was blamed by Tehran on the UK for having caused student's rage by trying to stir opposition in Iran following the disputed 2009 presidential elections.
Emadi further said while British companies cannot fight French or German counterparts in automobile, railroad, or aviation industries, they are leading in technology investment and energy management.
Britain is a leading country in extracting energy carries even from deep waters. The country is also highly advanced in petrochemical industries, so much so that even US companies find it hard to compete British companies such as the BP.
Edited by CN