Rouhani urges efforts to rebuild Iran-Britain ties to "acceptable level"

President Hassan Rouhani on Monday called for efforts to rebuild ties between Iran and Britain to "an acceptable level."

"The officials of both countries have a greater responsibility to reconstruct the ties to an acceptable level based on mutual trust," Rouhani told visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, according to a report posted on the website of the Iranian presidency.

Hammond was in Tehran for the reopening of the British embassy on Sunday. Iran also reopend its mission in London.

Rouhani said that the Iran nuclear deal was an introduction for better relations between the Tehran and London.

"We consider the (nuclear) deal as the beginning of the move for improvement in international and regional arena," he said, referring to the comprehensive agreement over Iran's nuclear issue reached in July with six world powers, including Britain.

Rouhani said Tehran and London should harness the emerging climate for the expansion of all-out cooperation, developing political and economic relations, cooperation on research and scientific programs, and working together to solve regional and international issues.

The Iranian president also urged the signatories of the nuclear deal to remain committed to their obligations, saying that "Iran will also remain bound to its voluntary commitments envisaged in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, since Iran has been determined on not pursuing nuclear arms."

As for regional issues, Rouhani emphasized joint cooperation between Iran and Britain against terrorism, extremism and on political mechanisms to solve the conflicts in the Middle East.

British companies can engage in Iran's numerous plans in energy, road construction, renewal of air fleet, environment as well as industry and mines, he said.

For his part, Hammond also deemed the recent nuclear deal as an opportunity for further steps in the cooperation between two countries.

Reopening of the embassies, as an important measure, has provided an opportunity for dialogue between London and Tehran and will prepare the ground for better mutual understandings, Hammond said.

Britain also eyes expansion of all-out ties with Iran, which requires stable political relations, he said. Britain is ready to upgrade its diplomatic relations with Iran to the ambassador level from the current charge d'affaires status, he added.

Hammond came to Tehran to preside over Sunday's reopening ceremony of the British embassy after four years of closure.

The embassy was stormed in 2011 by a group of angry Iranian students who were protesting Britain's nuclear-related sanctions.

Concurrent with the reopening of the British embassy on Sunday, Iran also reopened its embassy in London on Sunday. Endit