PHOTO: Head of Iran’s National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani (right), greets British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on Monday

Iran’s courtship of European countries, following the July 14 nuclear deal with the 5+1 Powers, continued on Monday with meetings with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in Tehran.

Hammond was received by President Rouhani on Monday. However, the headline statement came from the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, who said Iran and Britain should pursue durable ties despite the “ups and downs” that have existed in their relationship throughout history.

Shamkhani said Tehran and London could ensure their interests were met through “confidence-building and mutual respect”, while calling on Western governments to avoid “unconstructive misunderstandings” in their relations with the Islamic Republic.

The Admiral also implicitly pressed Britain over the Syrian crisis, asserting that some nations have “ignored Iran’s repeated calls for refraining from providing of arms to militants”.

The United Kingdom has given nominal support to Syria’s opposition, but it has refrained from direct intervention in the attempt to remove President Assad, who has relied on Iranian backing to hold onto power.

Shamkhani’s also reinforced the efforts of other Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, to encourage Britain investment and trade as he called for an expansion of economic cooperation.

Iranian State media, which has been favorable towards Hammond throughout his two-day visit and reopening of the British Embassy after almost four years, said the Foreign Secretary had declared common ground on “fighting terrorism, the “need for regional stability”, and economic ties.

The outlets also said Hammond “highlighted Iran’s special position as a regional power”.

Iran has eagerly received high-level European visitors since the July 14 deal, including French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel. Iranian media said this weekend that Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected in Tehran in October.

Tehran did put a bit of pressure on Hammond on Monday with a statement from Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani criticizing the West’s stance on human rights.

Larijani said “certain Western governments” had double standards in dealing with important issues such as the fight versus terrorism, narcotics, and foreign occupation. He echoed Shamkhani’s warning supply of weapons to “terror groups”.

According to Press TV, Hammond “admitted the fact that Britain has a negative record in the minds of Iranians” but said that “no one should be stalled in the past and there must be a move forward”.