Britain was wrong to close Tehran embassy, says David Miliband

TEHRAN,Feb.3(MNA) – Britain’s former foreign secretary said on Wednesday it was a mistake for the UK to close down its embassy in Tehran, saying it weakened Britain’s influence and understanding of Iran, Guardian reported. British Foreign Secretary William Hague withdrew British diplomats and shuttered the Tehran embassy after it was attacked in 2011 by a mob, which he claimed had the backing of the government. Iranian diplomats in London were also expelled. Hague’s predecessor, David Miliband, said the decision was “not just regrettable but damaging.” Speaking in a discussion of the Iranian nuclear standoff at the Royal United Services Institute, Miliband said the closure of the embassy “handed a propaganda victory for the people responsible.” “The only people who have been helped by how this whole imbroglio has ended up are those with the worst intentions for Iranian-British relations,” Miliband said. “We should have kept some diplomatic presence there, as we had an understanding of the country from the ground, which was really highly valued (by all our allies).” He said he had no doubt Hague had acted in order to protect his staff but said his objections were “not about motives, but consequences”. Miliband added that the decision to close down the embassy was announced just before a meeting of European foreign ministers, and argued that it would have been better to wait and act multilaterally. The move was described as a reduction of ties to the lowest level rather than a formal severing of relations. The Swedish Embassy hosts a UK interests section in Tehran and the Omani Embassy performs the same function for Iran in London. British and Iranian officials still talk to each other at international meetings.