Britain's Hammond hopes for 'new chapter' in Iran ties

Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Tuesday he hoped the reopening of the British embassy in Iran could spark a "new chapter" in ties between the two countries.

Writing in the state-run Iran newspaper, Hammond said he hoped the nuclear deal struck recently between Tehran and world powers would help open Iran up to the West.

"I am determined to turn the end of nuclear negotiations into a new chapter of relations between my country and Iran; relations that are beneficial to the people" of both countries, Hammond wrote.

He travelled to Iran on Sunday to restart diplomatic relations by reopening the UK embassy, which had been closed for four years, and met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.