UK belatedly appoints new Tehran envoy to replace Gass

The British Foreign Office has confirmed the belated appointment of Dominick John Chilcott as the new UK ambassador to Iran, replacing Sir Simon Gass who left his post in March. Gass was transferred more than one year early to NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan after provoking controversy in Tehran, including over his tweets. Chilcott, a career diplomat, takes up the vacant post after previously being the deputy head of the British Embassy in Washington for the past three years. His career spans nearly 30 years to date, and also includes serving as the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union and other overseas posts in Turkey and Portugal. “I am very glad to be going to Tehran. Iran is a large, diverse and important country with an extraordinarily rich and historic culture,” the Foreign Office quoted the new ambassador saying on his appointment. I look forward to dealing with the issues in our bilateral relations on the basis of dialogue, understanding and mutual respect and to becoming better acquainted with the Iranian people, their complex and vibrant contemporary society as well as their culture and traditions,” he said. The confirmation of his appointment came after Chilcott submitted his credentials in Tehran on Wednesday, when Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called on the UK to amend its hostile attitude towards Iran in accordance with current realities.