Zaghari-Ratcliffe prison threat may sabotage Iran-UK relations, says Dominic Raab
The British-Iranian national has been told she must attend court on Monday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iran will undermine efforts to improve its relations with the UK if Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is returned to prison, the foreign secretary has said.
The British-Iran national, who is currently under house arrest in Iran, has been told she must attend court on Monday and prepare to return to prison following the hearing.
The 42-year-old has been held in the country since April 2016 when she was arrested at Tehran airport following a visit to her parents to introduce them to their granddaughter.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was convicted of spying and jailed for five years, although she was released under house arrest in March this year as coronavirus swept through Iran's prisons.
Dominic Raab said on Friday morning: “The truth is the detention of Nazanin and other dual nationals in Iran is totally unwarranted, we've made it very clear we want to put the relationship between the UK and Iran on a better footing.
“If Nazanin is returned to prison that will of course put our discussions and the basis of those discussions in a totally different place.
“It is entirely unacceptable, it is entirely unwarranted, it is totally unjustified.”
Speaking to Radio 4's Today Programme, Mr Raab said: “I totally understand the horrific position she is in.”
He said it has been made clear to Iran that any move to bring fresh proceedings against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe “must not happen” .
On Thursday evening, Iranian ambassador Hamid Baeidinejad was summoned to a meeting at the Foreign Office (FCO) where he was told of the UK's “grave concern” at the development.
FCO director-general for the Middle East Thomas Drew said the ambassador was told the move was “unjustified and unacceptable, and is causing an enormous amount of distress”, a spokesman said.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been afforded diplomatic protection by the UK government, which states she is innocent and her treatment by Iran failed to meet obligations under international law.
She and her family believe she is being held as political leverage to try and force the UK's hand in a long-running financial dispute between the two countries.
It dates back to the 1970s when the then-Shah of Iran paid the UK £400m for 1,500 chieftain tanks.
When he was toppled in 1979, Britain refused to deliver the tanks to the new Islamic Republic but kept the cash, despite British courts accepting the money should be repaid.
The Iranian authorities have denied any link between the debt and Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's imprisonment.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments