Many thanks to those who contacted me about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
I can assure you that the Foreign Office continues to work hard to assist British nationals detained in Iran. My thoughts are with Nazanin and her family. Like you, I want to see her and indeed all other dual nationals detained, released immediately.
It is unacceptable, as the former Foreign Secretary made clear on 14 March, that Iran chose to continue with a second, wholly arbitrary, case against Nazanin. British Embassy staff in Tehran requested access to Nazanin's court hearing, as they have done for previous hearings, as part of their ongoing efforts to secure her release. Iran routinely denies the UK access to Nazanin because they do not recognise her as a dual British national and view her as solely Iranian. I condemn the inhumane and wholly unjustified decision by the Iranian authorities to sentence Nazanin to another year in prison.
Nazinin lost her latest appeal and the above sentence has been upheld with no court hearing. Iran's decision to proceed with these baseless charges is an appalling act of cruelty. As the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss argued on 16 October, instead of threatening to return Nazanin to prison Iran must release her.
Please be assured that HM Government is using every tool in its diplomatic arsenal to secure the immediate and permanent release of arbitrarily detained dual British nationals in Iran. Specific cases, such as Nazanin's, continue to be raised with the Iranian authorities at every possible level, including the most senior. The UK calls on Iran to rectify its dire human rights record, live up to its responsibilities under international human rights law and the Vienna Convention and release dual nationals.
I have immense sympathy for Nazanin, Richard and their young daughter. One struggles to imagine just how difficult Nazanin's unjust and ongoing detention is for them as a family. I completely understand the actions Richard is taking. As I have said, the Foreign Secretary has spoken with Nazanin and Richard and her department continues to do everything it can to secure Nazanin's release, and indeed of all British dual nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran.
I will continue to monitor this issue. Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
