‘We’ll leave no stone unturned to secure release of Iran-jail mum’
BORIS Johnson has said he had “worthwhile” meetings in Iran to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and that the Government “will leave no stone unturned in our efforts”.
The Foreign Secretary added that he did not want to raise false hopes, but said his messages over the British mother had been received and understood by Iranian officials.
It comes as Iran’s foreign ministry said it would raise the case with the judiciary “out of humanitarian concerns” following the visit by Mr Johnson.
Updating MPs about his trip to Iran and other countries in the region, Mr Johnson said: “On bilateral issues, my first priority was the plight of the dual nationals behind bars.
“I urged their release on humanitarian grounds, where there is cause to do so. These are complex cases involving individuals considered by Iran to be their own citizens, and I do not wish to raise false hopes.
“But my meetings in Tehran were worthwhile, and while I do not believe it will be in the interests of the individuals concerned or their loved ones to provide a running commentary, the House can be assured that the Government will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to secure their release.”
Mr Johnson later reeled off a list of senior figures he had met and spoken to in Tehran, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
“In each of those conversations, I repeated, as I have said to the House, the case for release on humanitarian grounds where that is appropriate for the difficult consular cases that we have in Iran,” said Mr Johnson.
“That message was certainly received and understood, though as I say to the House, it is too early to be confident about the outcome.”
Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the final decision on whether to release Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government – something she vehemently denies – rests with the judiciary.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whose sisterin-law Rebecca Jones is a GP living in Cardiff, “is considered an Iranian national and should serve her prison conviction according to the judicial system of Iran”, Mr Ghasemi said.
On Sunday, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard Ratcliffe said there had been “positive consequences” as a result of the talks, including the postponement of a new court case.
Having always been keen to have his wife home for Christmas and for her birthday which follows soon after, he said he was optimistic that this was still achievable.
“But as Christmas gets closer it gets harder to expect,” he added. “I wasn’t presuming that she would come back on the plane with him [Mr Johnson].
“So I think for me, it was always best case scenario that his going would unlock the door and then days later she might be able to come home.
“That is still possible.”