Boris Johnson tells Iran’s president Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe detention is ‘completely unacceptable’
Charity worker faces another court hearing this weekend
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has told Iran’s president that his country’s continued confinement of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is “completely unacceptable”, according to Number 10.
Downing Street said the PM held a phone conversation with Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson demanded Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s immediate release, along with that of other British-Iranian dual nationals, Downing Street said.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was recently released from house arrest and had her ankle tag removed following a five-year prison term.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation worker was detained in 2016 on spying charges which she denied and the UK has also rejected.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “[Mr Johnson] said that while the removal of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s ankle monitor was welcome, her continued confinement remains completely unacceptable and she must be allowed to return to her family in the UK.”
It is feared that Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe may face further charges, with a fresh court hearing expected on Sunday.
Her husband Richard Ratcliffe, accompanied by their six-year-old daughter Gabriella, attended a vigil outside the Iranian embassy in Knightsbridge, central London, on Monday.
Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK’s director, said: “Nazanin has already been convicted once after a deeply unfair trial before a revolutionary court, so of course we're extremely concerned about this hearing.”
She said that Iran “systematically [violates] fair trial rights” and that it was vital British officials be granted permission to attend any court hearings.
Downing Street has previously said that officials have been denied access to legal proceedings because Iran does not recognise dual nationality.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office reiterated its displeasure at Iran’s imprisonment of dual nationals as “diplomatic leverage” in a statement earlier this month, saying those individuals had been “arbitrarily detained”.
During his call with Mr Rouhani, Mr Johnson also raised Iran’s breaches of its nuclear deal with world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The Downing Street spokesperson said the PM “stressed that while the UK remains committed to making the Iran nuclear deal a success, Iran must stop all its nuclear activity that breaches the terms of the JCPOA and come back into compliance”.
“He stressed the importance of Iran seizing the opportunity presented by the United States’ willingness to return to the deal if Iran comes back into compliance,” they added.
“The prime minister underlined the need for Iran to cease wider destabilising activity and be a positive force in the Gulf region.”
Additional reporting by Press Association
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments