Fresh hope for jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran
Iran government officials have said they will consider the case of the British mother jailed in the country on ‘humanitarian’ grounds after Boris Johnson held talks highlighting her plight in Tehran over the weekend.
The Foreign Secretary had discussed British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case with the country’s president and a number of Iranian officials in his efforts to free the aid worker who has been held since April 2016.
Returning to parliament yesterday, Mr Johnson told MPs that he had ‘worthwhile’ meetings and said his messages over the case had been received and understood by Iranian officials.
His comments came as Iran’s foreign ministry said it would raise Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case with the judiciary ‘out of humanitarian concerns’ after it was highlighted by Mr Johnson during his visit.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, of Hampstead, North London, was arrested in 2016 during a holiday visit to show her baby daughter Gabriella to her parents
The Foreign Secretary had discussed British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case with the country’s president and a number of Iranian officials in his efforts to free the aid worker
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shakes hands with Mr Johnson. Returning to parliament yesterday, the Foreign Secretary told MPs that he had ‘worthwhile’ meetings
The foreign ministry’s spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the final decision on whether to release the mother, who is serving a five-year sentence on trumped up ‘espionage’ charges, rests with the judiciary.
He also added that while the case was being raised she was still considered ‘an Iranian national and should serve her prison conviction according to the judicial system of Iran’.
Iran does not recognise dual-citizenship.
Updating MPs about his trip to Iran, Mr Johnson said: ‘On bilateral issues, my first priority was the plight of the dual nationals behind bars.
‘I urged their release on humanitarian grounds, where there is cause to do so.
‘These are complex cases involving individuals considered by Iran to be their own citizens, and I do not wish to raise false hopes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pictured with Boris Johnson.
‘But my meetings in Tehran were worthwhile, and while I do not believe it will be in the interests of the individuals concerned or their loved ones to provide a running commentary, the House can be assured that the Government will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to secure their release.’
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said that she could ‘see some light’ at the end of the tunnel as her family attributed Mr Johnson’s visit leading to the postponement of her fresh trial on Sunday.
She was due in court amid threats to double her five year sentence over new charges brought after Mr Johnson incorrectly told a Parliamentary committee she had been in Iran to train journalists.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has always maintained that she was on holiday with her daughter when she was arrested.
Mr Johnson, who has raised efforts to free her since his blunder last month, was forced to apologise over his incorrect comments when she was threatened with a longer sentence.