A former Oxford academic has been appointed Britain’s first ambassador to Iran since 2011.

Nicholas Hopton takes up the post a year after the embassy reopened.

It was closed when Britain cut diplomatic ties with Iran after protestors overran two British embassy compounds five years ago.

From 2013 to 2014 Mr Hopton was a visiting academic at St Anthony’s College.

He has previously served as British ambassador to Qatar.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “This is an important moment’ for the nations. in the relationship between the UK and Iran.”