Iran appeals for easing of sanctions
Diplomatic appeals by Iran for relief from US sanctions to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic may offer an opportunity for the release of dual nationals jailed by the regime, campaigners have suggested.
Discussions between Iran and Britain, France and Germany over the coronavirus crisis have run in parallel with talks over the release of prisoners such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, raising hopes of a general diplomatic breakthrough.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the BritishIranian charity worker who has been jailed since 2016, was told on Sunday that her furlough from prison would be extended by two weeks and has been shortlisted for clemency, raising hopes that she could possibly be on her way home.
‘‘Obviously we are not an ‘automatic’ case, but one that needs a political decision, likely at the highest level, so it is good the prosecutor general and supreme leaders office are now formally involved in the decision on Nazanin’s case,’’ said Richard Ratcliffe, her husband.
‘‘The actual decision they take will depend, I suspect, on the wider diplomatic relationship between Iran and the UK, and particularly co-operation over helping to deal with coronavirus and the humanitarian crisis enveloping Iran.
‘‘France and the US have, if anything, had more success than the UK in the past few weeks with their prisoners – so I think there is movement far beyond just Nazanin’s case.’’
Earlier this month, Iran released Roland Marchal, a French researcher who was arrested in 2019 accused of plotting against national security.
Bill Richardson, a former US ambassador to the United Nations who is often involved in negotiations with hostile regimes, said at the weekend the Iranians were ‘‘contemplating’’ a request to allow Michael White, a US prisoner who has come down with coronavirus symptoms, to come home.
Iran launched
adiplomatic blitz to urge Western governments, including the UK, to violate unilateral US sanctions if necessary as the country’s coronavirus epidemic exploded in early March.
Personal protection gear like masks and aprons are not necessarily covered by the exceptions for medical equipment in US sanctions, making international banks and logistics companies wary of facilitating orders.
The economic impacts, including a dramatic erosion of many Iranians’ personal savings under the sanctions regime, has also left the country vulnerable to the inevitable shocks associated with quarantine.
‘‘The result is that Iran is facing extreme trade offs between optimal public health results and steps to shore up the economy,’’ said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of Bourse and Bazaar, a think tank focused on Iran’s economy. – Telegraph Group