Iran’s envoy to the UK is to make his first visit to London to visit the Foreign Office, according to the UK’s Foreign Secretary William Hague.

The visit of the Iranian envoy, Hassan Habibollahzadeh, follows the visit of the UK envoy to Iran on 3 December. The visits follow the recent temporary deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, under which Iran will cease some of its nuclear activities in return for a reduction in Western sanctions.

Under the deal, Iran has agreed to allow access to nuclear inspectors and will cease work on uranium enrichment for a period of six months.

The visits end a period of little diplomatic contact between the two states, following the UK shutting down its Tehran embassy in 2011 after it was stormed in protest over British nuclear sanctions.