Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew said it was crucial for Canada to have top level representation in Tehran in the heat of a controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions.

But he warned that Canadians believed the treatment of the journalist, Zahra Kazemi, and Iran's handling of the inquiry into her death in 2003, was offensive.

"It is important to resume our full diplomatic presence in Iran at this juncture," Pettigrew said in a statement.

"Our Ambassador will be responsible for representing Canadas views on Irans nuclear program at a time when Canada chairs the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency."

But Pettigrew warned Tehran should expect no let-up in Canada's demands for answers on the Kazemi case.

"Canada remains deeply committed to this case ... Justice denied is offensive to Canadians. This case will be pursued energetically."

New ambassador Gordon Venner will replace former top envoy Philip MacKinnon who was recalled to Ottawa in July 2004, in protest after Canadian diplomats were barred from attending a court case in the Kazemi case.

Kazemi, 56, died in hospital after sustaining a blow in custody.

Between her arrest and her admission to hospital, Kazemi was interrogated by judicial prosecutors, the police and the intelligence ministry, rival power centres in Iran which have since blamed each other for the death.

Intelligence ministry agent, Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi, 42, was cleared of "quasi-intentional murder" in July, and the judiciary said later Kazemi's death seemed to have been accidental as "the only suspect" had been found not guilty.

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