The British embassy in Iran has reopened, nearly four years after it was attacked by protestors.

"Iran is too large a player to simply leave in isolation", said Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who is meeting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Monday, following the re-opening of embassies in London and Tehran.

"If we don't talk to the Iranians we will not be able to influence development of Iranian policy.

"But what the rise of ISIL has done is drawn attention to fact that even when we have strong disagreements, there will be other areas where we can work together because we have alignment of interests."

By BBC News