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, the British and the Iranians had been in informal contact since the early 17th century when the East India Company developed trade links with the Safavid Empire. 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) 1807–1811: Sir Harford Jones-Brydges, 1st Baronet, envoy extraordinaryJ. Haydn, Book of Dignities (1851), 86.British Diplomatic Representatives in Iran 1800–1950 . British Library. Accessed 3 February 2015. 1810–1814: Sir Gore Ouseley, Bt, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiaryThe London Gazette, 10 March 1810 April 1814 – October 1815: James Morier, Minister Plenipotentiary (ad interim) 13 April 1814: Sir Henry Ellis, Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary (ad interim), in James Morier's absence 1815–22, 1823–26: Henry Willock, chargé d'affaires 1822–23: Major George Willock, deputy chargé d'affaires 29 July 1826: Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, Envoy Extraordinary from Government of India British envoy to Persia, 1830-35: Sir John Campbell 1835–1836: Sir Henry Ellis, ambassador 1836–1842: Sir John McNeill, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary No representation during the Siege of Herat 1844–1854: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Justin Sheil, secretary of legation February 1836, Head of Mission 1839–44, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 1844–54 1847–49: Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Farrant, chargé d'affaires 1849, 1853–55: Sir William Taylour Thomson, chargé d'affaires 1854–1855: Sir Charles Murray, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 1855–1857: No representation due to the Anglo-Persian War 1857–1858: Sir Charles Murray, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 1858–59: William Doria, chargé d'affaires 1859–1860: Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Rawlinson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary November–December 1859: Sir Ronald Thomson, chargé d'affaires 1860–1872: Charles Alison, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary April 1872 May–July 1860: Captain (later Colonel Sir) Lewis Pelly, chargé d'affaires November–December 1862: Sir Ronald Thomson, chargé d'affaires December 1862 – January 1863: Edward Eastwick, chargé d'affaires 1863, 1869–70: Sir Ronald Thomson, chargé d'affaires April–May 1872: William Dickson, chargé d'affaires 1872–73: Sir Ronald Thomson, chargé d'affaires 1872–1879: Sir William Taylour Thomson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 1878–79: Sir Ronald Thomson, chargé d'affaires 1879–1887: Sir Ronald Ferguson Thomson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 1885–86: Sir Arthur Nicolson, chargé d'affaires 1887–1891: Sir Henry Drummond Wolff 1889, November 1890, November 1891: Robert John Kennedy, chargé d'affaires 1891–1894: Sir Frank Lascelles 1894: Sir Conyngham Greene, chargé d'affaires 1894–1900: Sir Mortimer Durand 1897–98: Lord Hardinge, chargé d'affaires March 1900 – 1901: Sir Cecil Spring Rice, chargé d'affaires October 1900–1906: Sir Arthur Hardinge (appointed Consul-General) October–November 1902: William Erskine, chargé d'affaires 1904, 1905: Evelyn Grant Duff, chargé d'affaires 1906–1908: Sir Cecil Spring Rice 1908–1912: Sir George Barclay 1912–1915: Sir Walter Townley 1915–1918: Sir Charles Marling 1918–1920: Sir Percy Cox (ad interim) 1920–1921: Herman Norman 1921–1926: Sir Percy Loraine, Bt 1926–1931: Sir Robert Clive 1931–1934: Sir Reginald Hoare 1934–1936: Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen 1936–1939: Sir Horace Seymour 1942–1944: Sir Reader Bullard

Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary (1944–1980) 1944–1946: Sir Reader Bullard 1946–1950: Sir John Le Rougetel 1950–1952: Sir Francis Shepherd 1952–1953: No representation due to the nationalisation of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company 1954–1958: Sir Roger Stevens 1958–1963: Sir Geoffrey Harrison 1963–1971: Sir Denis Wright 1971–1974: Hon. Sir Peter Ramsbotham 1974–1979: Sir Anthony Parsons 1979–1980: Sir John Graham

Heads 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 and 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. 1980–1981: Stephen Barrett 1981–1983: Nicholas Barrington C.V.O.

1983–1988: 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 1989–1990: No representation due to the fatwā issued against Salman Rushdie

Ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary (1990–present) 1990–1993: David Reddaway, Chargé d'affaires 1993–1997: Jeffrey Russell James, Chargé d'affaires 1997–2002: Sir Nicholas Browne 2003–2006: Sir Richard Dalton 2006–2009: Sir Geoffrey Adams 2009–2011: Sir Simon Gass 2011–2011: Dominick Chilcott 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., British Embassy Tehran 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)Appointment of UK non-resident Chargé d'Affaires to Iran, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 11 November 2013 On 23 August 2015 the UK embassy in Tehran was reopened and the Chargé d'affaires moved to be resident there.British embassy in Tehran reopens four years after closure, BBC News, 23 August 2015 The Chargé d'affaires was made Ambassador in September 2016.UK appoints first ambassador to Iran in five years, BBC News, 5 September 2016 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)Chargé d'Affaires to Iran appointed, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 30 December 2015

April 2018 – August 2021: Robert Macaire August 2021–2024: Simon Shercliff 2024–present: Hugo Shorter

See also List of ambassadors of Iran to the United Kingdom Robert Macaire

References

External links UK and Iran, gov.uk