UK Downgrades Iran Travel Warning Amid Thaw

The UK Foreign Office has downgraded its travel warning to Britons considering travelling to Iran, as relations between the two countries begin to thaw.

Previously, Britons had been warned they faced an "unacceptably high" risk when visiting the country but advice has now been changed to warn against travel "unless it is essential".

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the move was in part due to the approach adopted by President Hassan Rouhani after Iran struck a deal with the West over its nuclear programme .

"Our policy is to recommend against travel to an area when we judge that the risk is unacceptably high.

"We consider that continues to be the case for specific areas of Iran, notably along Iran's borders with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"But we believe that in other areas of Iran the risk to British nationals has changed, in part due to decreasing hostility under President Rouhani's Government."

The UK Embassy in Tehran remains closed and travellers needing help would have to contact the Swedish or EU diplomatic missions.