List of diplomats of the United Kingdom to Iran

The ambassador of the United Kingdom to Iran is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission in Iran. The official title is His Majesty's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Although Britain and Iran (originally Persia) did not enter into formal diplomatic relations until 1807, British and Iranians had been in informal contact since the early 17th century when the East India Company developed trade links with the Persian kingdom.[1] Initially, diplomatic missions comprised a legation until they were promoted to embassy status in 1943.

At various times in history during crises or disputes, Britain has had no diplomatic presence in the country, and has either relied on other nations as protecting powers, or has had a non-resident diplomat.

Heads of mission

Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary (1807–1944)

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1944–1980)

Head of British Interests Section, Royal Swedish Embassy, Tehran (1980–1990)

In 1980 Britain closed its embassy in Tehran after a brief occupation of the compound in the wake of the Iran hostage crisis, the Iranian Embassy siege and was subsequently represented in the country by Sweden as a protecting power. Nonetheless, a small detachment of British personnel maintained a presence at the Swedish Embassy.

  • 19801981: Stephen Barrett
  • 19811983: Nicholas John Barrington C.V.O.
  • 19821988: Michael Simpson-Orlebar followed by Christopher Macrae. In May 1986 Iran blocked the appointment of Hugh James Arbuthnott as head of the British Interests Section in the Swedish embassy in Tehran. This was in retaliation for Britain refusing to accept Hussein Malouk as Iranian chargé d'affaires in London, due to his participation in the 1979 student takeover of the U.S. embassy,
  • 1988: Paul Andrew Ramsay Senior Visa Officer British Interests Section, Tehran
  • 19891990: No representation due to the fatwā issued against Salman Rushdie

Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (1990–present)

The British Embassy in Tehran was closed following an attack on the Embassy on 29 November 2011. Sweden represented British interests in Iran through a British interests section at the Swedish Embassy in Tehran.[9] On 11 November 2013 the UK government appointed a non-resident chargé d'affaires to Iran.

  • 2013–2015: Ajay Sharma (non-resident Chargé d'affaires)[10]

On 23 August 2015 the UK embassy in Tehran was reopened and the Chargé d'affaires moved to be resident there.[11] The Chargé d'affaires was made Ambassador in September 2016.[12]

  • August–November 2015: Ajay Sharma (chargé d'affaires)
  • December 2015–March 2018: Nicholas Hopton (as Chargé d'affaires until September 2016; then as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary)[13]
  • April 2018–August 2021: Robert Macaire[14]
  • August 2021–present: Simon Shercliff[15]

See also

References

  1. "Great Britain". Encyclopædia Iranica. 23 April 2012.
  2. J. Haydn, Book of Dignities (1851), 86.
  3. British Diplomatic Representatives in Iran 1800-1950. British Library. Accessed 3 February 2015.
  4. The London Gazette, 10 March 1810
  5. "Michael William Alison 1956-1999 - Ancestry®".
  6. "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36085. London. 9 March 1900. p. 6.
  7. "No. 27263". The London Gazette. 4 January 1901. p. 81.
  8. "DALTON, Sir Richard (John)". Who's Who 2008. A & C Black. 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  9. "UK for Iranians". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), British Embassy Tehran
  10. Appointment of UK non-resident Chargé d'Affaires to Iran, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 11 November 2013
  11. British embassy in Tehran reopens four years after closure, BBC News, 23 August 2015
  12. UK appoints first ambassador to Iran in five years, BBC News, 5 September 2016
  13. Chargé d'Affaires to Iran appointed, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 30 December 2015
  14. "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Iran in April 2018". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 14 March 2018.
  15. Wintour, Patrick (12 August 2021). "UK ambassador angers Iran with 'insulting' embassy photo gaffe". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
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