LONDON: Britain and Iran will each appoint a charge d’affaires to work toward resuming ties severed after a mob attacked the British embassy in Tehran in 2011, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Tuesday.

The diplomats, one level below ambassador, will remain in their respective countries but will look into reopening embassies in London and Tehran, Hague told the House of Commons.

“I’ve made very clear to Mr. Zarif that we are open to more direct contact and further improvements in our bilateral relations,” Hague said.

“We have therefore agreed that both our countries will now appoint a non-resident charge d’affaires tasked with implementing the building of relations, including interim steps on the way toward the eventual reopening of both our embassies as well as dialogue on other issues of mutual concern.”