Richard Ratcliffe Calls for Explanation on Continued Imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari

The husband of Nazanin Zaghari, an Iranian-British employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation who is currently detained in Iran, has urged the UK Foreign Secretary to provide explanations regarding her current situation and continued imprisonment. Richard Ratcliffe stated on March 10 that the head of Iran's prison organization said this week that her release order has been confirmed... [and] has been confirmed for several months. Ratcliffe expressed hope for his wife's release and requested the UK Foreign Secretary to inform him and others about the conditions and events. He said, 'Part of today's message for Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, is that he should meet with me and explain the reason for her continued imprisonment.' Ratcliffe and several activists gathered in front of the UK Foreign Office. Nazanin Zaghari was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 3, 2016, while leaving Iran. She has been accused of attempting what Iranian officials describe as 'soft overthrow.' While this Iranian-British citizen has been sentenced to five years in prison, Iranian judicial authorities announced in December that a new case had been opened against her. The accusations and statements regarding Nazanin Zaghari come as UN legal experts have stated: 'In our view, Ms. Zaghari Ratcliffe has been arbitrarily deprived of her freedom, and her right to a fair trial in an impartial and independent court has been violated.' Ultimately, before Boris Johnson's trip to Tehran, the issue of Ms. Zaghari was raised, and it was said that one of the main topics of discussion with Iranian officials would be 'how to settle Tehran's claim' from London. This claim was linked to a report in the British newspaper Telegraph, which stated that the UK government had expressed readiness to pay '£400 million' to Iran in exchange for Zaghari's release, although some Iranian officials denied this matter. London's debt to Tehran dates back to the purchase of hundreds of Chieftain tanks, some of which were delivered to Iran, but the UK refrained from transferring the remainder after the 1979 revolution. On March 21, Richard Ratcliffe issued a statement saying that according to the judge's comments on Ms. Zaghari's case, 'the disagreement' between Iran and the UK over 'debt interest' is the reason for her continued imprisonment. The UK Foreign Office has yet to respond to Mr. Ratcliffe's recent statements.