Britain is 'considering granting' diplomatic protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British citizen imprisoned in Iran, stated on Wednesday that Nazanin's patience has run out due to the unsuccessful efforts for her release. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Secretary also mentioned that the issue of granting diplomatic protection to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is under consideration. Jeremy Hunt, the UK Foreign Secretary, said in an interview yesterday that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is facing a very unpleasant situation. According to the Daily Mail, the Foreign Secretary emphasized that he is reviewing the details of Richard Ratcliffe's request for diplomatic protection for Nazanin Zaghari. However, Jeremy Hunt clarified that he has not yet reached a final decision on this matter. According to the report, diplomatic protection is granted under international law when a citizen's rights are disregarded in another country, and the case becomes a national issue that could impact the relations between the two countries. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards on April 3, 2016, while leaving Iran at the airport. She was accused by the Revolutionary Guards of collaborating with institutions opposed to the Islamic Republic and participating in 'soft overthrow' activities, and the court sentenced her to five years in prison. Meanwhile, Richard Ratcliffe stated that they have been seeking diplomatic protection for Nazanin since Boris Johnson was the Foreign Secretary. He added that it is clear that there are issues between Britain and Iran, and they have become part of their political deal. Over the more than two years since Nazanin Zaghari's arrest and conviction in Iran, Britain has repeatedly called for her release, and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also called for her release on humanitarian grounds during his visit to Tehran. However, Iranian officials have ignored these requests, and reports have emerged about the intertwining of Nazanin's fate with an old financial dispute between the two countries. Previously, Nazanin Zaghari's relatives had said that one of the judicial officials told her that she would not be eligible for early release until the British government pays its debt to Iran. The Telegraph had previously reported that the British government has expressed readiness to pay £400 million (equivalent to $527 million) to Iran for an old debt in exchange for Nazanin Zaghari's release. The Islamic Republic of Iran states that it does not recognize dual nationality and considers those entering the country with an Iranian passport as Iranian citizens. In January 2016, following the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, four Iranian-American citizens imprisoned in Iran were released. It was later revealed that the U.S. had simultaneously given Tehran $400 million in cash as part of the assets seized from Iran related to Iran's military purchases from the U.S. during the Shah's time.