Freedom may ultimately rely on colour of Britain’s money
After five years of jail and house arrest in Iran, Nazanin Zaghariratcliffe must have felt elated when her ankle tag was finally removed yesterday. But relief will be tempered by the knowledge that this does not necessarily mean her freedom.
The blunt truth, her family fear, is she is one of several British-iranian hostages being held for ransom – a ransom that has still not been paid.
Neither government wants to admit it but Iranian officials have said her detention is linked to a multimillionpound debt that the UK owes Iran.
That is why her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, is guarded about what happens now: he does not think the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps will give up their hostage until they see the colour of Britain’s money.
The dispute goes back to the 1970s, when the Shah ordered armoured vehicles from an export company owned by the UK Ministry of Defence. After the 1979 revolution the deal fell apart but Britain did not return an advance payment. In 2008, the UK was ordered by an international arbitration court to repay the debt. An epic legal battle ensued and another court hearing is due in London on April 20.
Iran could, in the meantime, keep Mrs Zaghari-ratcliffe in Iran until then or even beyond. They could keep her passport so, though ostensibly free, she could not leave the country. It is a tactic visited upon other prisoners.
More menacing is the threat of a second criminal case. In September she was told she would face fresh charges of “propaganda against the regime” – allegations that may be linked to remarks Boris Johnson made when he was foreign secretary. She has been summoned to court, raising fears of a new conviction.
Britain has always downplayed any link but there has lately been a change in tone from Whitehall. Mr Ratcliffe said last week that Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, did not dispute the link’s existence. Don’t expect Britain or Iran to acknowledge a deal, but the April 20 hearing could be the moment when an understanding is reached.