Iranian parliament follows up on downgrading ties with UK

Head of the commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said the body is following up on downgrading relations with Britain in cultural, commercial and economic fields, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Sunday.

Boroujerdi added that the commission has pledged to study the case and give a report to lawmakers as soon as possible.

Tension between Iran and Britain crept to public view after Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced that the country is mulling over limiting relations with the UK in some 12 working fields.

"After months of deliberation, the Tehran government has decided to limit its relations with Britain in various areas," Mottaki said on January 18.

"There are 10-12 working fields between Iran and the UK. We are currently reviewing each area," he continued, adding that the Islamic Republic would soon make a final decision about the issue.

On January 10, dozens of Iranian lawmakers threw their weight behind the bill over Britain's interference in Iran's internal affairs.

The bill would oblige the Tehran government to "cut or suspend" its political ties with London. However, Iran will resume ties with the UK should the British government officially apologize for its acts against the Iranian government and nation. Iran's Parliament should giver the green light for the resumption of mutual ties.

Diplomatic relations between Iran and Britain have had many ups and downs in the years that followed the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The two countries first severed ties in 1989, shortly after the publication of the controversial book, The Satanic Verses, which sparked worldwide outrage in the late 1980s.

In September 1990, Iran and Britain resumed ties at a lower level, which was gradually increased to an ambassadorial level in the ensuing years. The two countries eventually restored full diplomatic relations after a visit by Jack Straw, the then British foreign secretary, to Iran in 2001.

/Press TV/