MNA– Iran’s ambassador to UK said, in today’s challenging world, diplomacy remained as the most influential factor in soft power.


Hamid Baeidinejad made the remarks in a note on his Instagram page while referring to appointment of Sir Tim Barrow as Britain's ambassador to the EU on the eve of Brexit talks.

“Presently, detailed daily discussions are underway in Britain on crucial and historical role of diplomats in the European country’s decisive negotiations indicating that politicians, even in a country like Britain, are faced with challenged while appointing the right type of person who simultaneously possesses relevant experience and knowledge,” he wrote.

He further commented that “even the Norwegian PM, today, expressed concerns on Britain’s lack of an experienced team in commercial and legal negotiations with the European Union.”

"Determining the European country’s negotiating team to discuss its withdrawal from the European Union (EU) has turned into one of the most important domestic and foreign policy discussions in these days of the Great Britain."

He further hlightliged that "when Britain’s former ambassador to the headquarters resigned from his post despite being a specialist in EU issues, a wave of concerns was aroused in the country as who will be able to replace the previous ambassador in the current sensitive stage and to lead negotiations on Britain’s exit from the EU."

"Prime Minister of the UK Theresa May, in a bid to end ambiguities and concerns over the resignation of Sir Ivan Rogers as Britain’s ambassador to the EU, swiftly appointed career diplomat Sir Tim Barrow as Roger’s replacement," noted the Iranian ambassador.

Baeidinejad recalled that he had met Tim Barrow in the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) though he had joined the team as highest-ranking political official of Britain late into negotiations. “I had once again met Mr. Barrow prior to the new year at the Foreign Office of the UK and he has a tough task ahead even though he is an experienced person.”

Nevertheless, these developments prove that in today’s challenging world, diplomacy enjoys an increasingly important role in determining the fate of countries and nations, said Baeidinejad concluding “in addition to factors of hard power which are crucial parts of national power, diplomacy is still the most decisive factor in soft power.”

Barrow was UK ambassador to Moscow until 2015 and in March 2016 succeeded Sir Simon Gass as political director at the Foreign Office.