EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds was in Tehran this week accompanying Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on his mission to re-open the British Embassy.

This was the first visit to Iran by a British Foreign Secretary since 2003, and comes four years after an attack by violent protesters which closed the embassy in 2011.

Mr Hinds was there in his role as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, heading a small trade delegation.

They were intent on discussing possible future trade opportunities following last month’s historic nuclear agreement, which could lead to the lifting of sanctions.

Foreign Secretary Mr Hammond is quoted as saying that the re-opening of the British Embassy in Tehran, and the simultaneous re-opening of the Iranian Embassy in London, was “a key step to improved bilateral relations.”

In the first instance, he said, it would be necessary to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, and this would include the encouragement of trade and investment once sanctions are lifted.

Mr Hammond said Britain and Iran should also be ready to discuss the challenges they both face such as “terrorism, regional stability, the spread of ISIL in Syria and Iraq, counter-narcotics and migration”.

He continued: “This move does not mean that we agree on everything. But it is right that Britain and Iran should have a presence in each other’s countries. The role of embassies is to build co-operation where we agree and to reduce our differences where we don’t.”