LONDON, Feb 8: Relations between the UK and Iran have suffered a setback following Iran’s refusal to receive Britain’s choice of new ambassador in Tehran.

It has been learnt that the government in Tehran has rejected the new British ambassador David Reddaway whom a hardliner newspaper in Iran has described as Jewish and an agent of the British intelligence service MI6.

Mr Reddaway has served as a diplomat in Iran twice before, speaks fluent Farsi and has an Iranian wife. The British government has denied that Mr David Reddaway is in MI6 and he is said to be not Jewish.

Some reports suggest that Mr Blair had himself discussed the appointment of the new ambassador in a telephone conversation with Iran’s reformist President Khatami last month.