Theresa May makes fresh plea to Iran to release jailed mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
2 min read
Theresa May last night made a direct appeal to Iran to release jailed mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other dual nationals “on humanitarian grounds”.
In a phone call with president Hassan Rouhani, the Prime Minister asked for “further progress to be made” so British-Iranians imprisoned by Tehran can be freed.
She also insisted the UK remains committed to the Iran nuclear deal after US president Donald Trump dramatically pulled out of the accord last week.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe is one of nearly 30 British-Iranians held by authorities in the country - most of whom were imprisoned on security charges.
The charity worker was arrested on claims of spying in April 2016 and sentenced to five years in jail as she attempted to return to Britain after a family visit.
Downing Street said Mrs May had “raised the issue of consular cases relating to dual nationals currently held on charges in Iran and called for further progress to be made so individuals could be released on humanitarian grounds”.
A statement added: “The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s position that we and our European partners remain firmly committed to ensuring the Iran nuclear deal is upheld.
“She said it is in both the UK and Iran’s national security interests to maintain the deal and welcomed President Rouhani’s public commitment to abide by its terms, adding that it is essential that Iran continues to meet its obligations.”
And Mrs May urged Iran to cease military operations against Israeli forces - after tensions between the arch-enemies flared up in the wake of the US shock to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Mrs May and Mr Rouhani agreed to keep in touch ahead of a meeting in Brussels tomorrow with German and French foreign ministers, at which the Iran deal will be discussed.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tried to secure the release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe in December but his efforts appeared to have been rebuffed.
He made the diplomatic push after telling MPs she had been in Iran as a journalist - a blunder that could have seen her sentence doubled.
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