Government rejected chances to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, say MPs

Ministers distressed Nazanin and others with ‘offensive’ comments – as evidence shows chances for release missed

The UK government imposed “significant suffering” on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori by rejecting changes to free them from captivity in Iran, a damning report by MPs has found.

Early opportunities to secure the freedom of the British-Iranian dual nationals were not taken, according to the foreign affairs committee report into the handling of hostage diplomacy.

The report criticised the “considerable ministerial transience” in recent years, after Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe questioned, on her release, why it took five foreign secretaries over six years to bring her home.