Johnson to question Briton’s detention on regional trip that includes UAE, Oman and Iran

British foreign secretary Boris Johnson is to visit the UAE on a Middle East trip that takes in Iran and Oman.

A statement said Mr Johnson would press for the release of detained dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as well as hold discussions with senior figures in all three countries.

He would also focus on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the conflict in Yemen and tensions in the region.

This trip will be the first by a British foreign secretary to Iran since 2015, and only the third since 2003.

“This visit comes at a crucial time for the Gulf region and provides an opportunity to discuss a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen, the future of the Iran nuclear deal and the current volatility in the Middle East,” a spokesman said.

“This is the first visit of the foreign secretary to Iran and we expect talks to cover a wide range of issues, from the bilateral relationship to regional security. The government remains very concerned about all our dual nationals detained in Iran and has been doing everything it can to make progress on their cases, while approaching them in a way that we judge is in their best interests. The foreign secretary will urge the Iranians to release dual nationals where there are humanitarian grounds to do so.”

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe faces an extra decade in prison when she appears in court on Sunday to face new espionage-related charges.

Mr Johnson’s trip to Tehran will be only the third visit by a British foreign secretary to the country since 2003