Boris may correct Nazanin comments

BORIS JOHNSON is considering changing the record of his evidence to a Commons committee regarding a British-Iranian woman held in Tehran after his remarks were reportedly used as “proof ” of her guilt, it has emerged.

The Foreign Secretary is understood to be reviewing his decision to stand by comments in which he claimed that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been “training journalists”.

The Sunday Telegraph understands that Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, asked Mr Johnson last week to correct the claim. According to sources, the Foreign Secretary “flatly refused”. However, this weekend he is understood to be reviewing the decision.

The disclosure comes af- ter he said in a statement that he was sorry “any words of mine have been so taken out of context or so misconstrued as to cause any kind of anxiety to the family of Nazanin ZaghariRatcliffe,” and admitted his comments “could have been clearer”.

Mr Johnson faced criticism after his comments were seized upon by Iran’s judiciary and state television as evidence against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Following Mr Johnson’s comments Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was summoned before an unscheduled court hearing. It is thought Mr Johnson may now request that the official record be amended to reflect the Foreign Office’s official position, though it is not clear whether he will retract the claim.