A British parliamentary delegation led by former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrives in Tehran earlier this week -- at the invitation of the Iranian government to boost diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Long-strained ties between the two countries have warmed since the relatively moderate Hassan Rouhani was elected Iran's president in June.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF UK DELEGATION AND FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY, JACK STRAW, SAYING:
"It is worth underlining that the rhetoric which Dr. (Hassan) Rouhani, your president, has used has changed and is changing for the better the perception of Iran, certainly in Western Europe and in the United States."
Last November, six world powers, including Britain, agreed to a framework that would curb Iran's nuclear program in return for easing economic sanctions.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF UK DELEGATION AND FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY, JACK STRAW, SAYING:
"I and my colleagues on the delegation support the
