Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Foreign Office minister to raise case of British mother during Iran visit

Alistair Burt also set to discuss nuclear deal as well as Islamic Republic's 'destabilising' activity in Syria and Yemen

The UK's middle east minister is expected to raise the case of jailed British Iranian mother, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, when he visits Iran this weekend.

“I will also use the opportunity of my visit to push for the resolution we all want to see in the cases of the British dual nationals detained in Iran," said Alistair Burt ahead of his trip to the country's capital, Tehran.

He is also expected the future of the Iran nuclear deal and what it called Iran’s "destabilising" activity in Syria and Yemen.

After her conviction for spying in 2016, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years in 2016. She has always maintained her innocence, saying she was on holiday to introduce her daughter to her family in Iran.

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt previously pledged to redouble efforts for the charity worker's release after she passed out during a panic attack and had to be taken to a prison clinic earlier this week.

Last week Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was granted a three-day temporary release. Images released by her family showed her joy at being reunited with them and particularly her young daughter, Gabriella.

But despite indications the furlough was to be extended, the Thomson Reuters worker was recalled to prison, where she suffered the panic attacks.

Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, called the decision “beyond cruel”.

Mr Burt said the visit was a “crucial moment for Iran’s relationship with the UK” around the nuclear deal.

“Since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal we, along with European and international partners, have reiterated our support for the deal and have underscored this support through mechanisms such as EU blocking legislation," he said. “As long as Iran meets its commitments under the deal, we remain committed to it as we believe it is the best way to ensure a safe, secure future for the region.

“Our support for the nuclear deal, though, does not prevent us strongly challenging Iran on issues where we disagree. During my visit this week I will stress that Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its destabilising activities in the Middle East must be addressed.”

This will be the first visit by a UK minister to Iran since Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear deal in May, and Mr Burt’s third visit to the country.

Following Mr Trump’s decision, the remaining parties to the agreement all vowed to maintain it. The US president had previously derided the pact, signed during the tenure of his predecessor, Barack Obama, as the “worst deal ever”.

The minister will have two days of meetings with Iranian ministers and other politicians and on Saturday he will meet his counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

Additional reporting by PA