UK: Nazanin Zaghari's Case Discussed in Boris Johnson's Talks with Iranian Officials

The British Foreign Office announced that Boris Johnson, the country's Foreign Secretary, discussed the issue of imprisoned Iranian-British citizens, including Nazanin Zaghari, during negotiations with Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran. According to Reuters, the British Foreign Secretary mentioned Nazanin Zaghari in his discussions with the Iranian President regarding imprisoned Iranian-British citizens. Nazanin Zaghari, an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested last year while returning from Iran to the UK at the airport and was sentenced to five years in prison. Another dual-national Iranian-British prisoner, Kamal Foroughi, 77, has been imprisoned in Iran for seven years on charges of 'espionage'. The statement noted that Hassan Rouhani and Boris Johnson spoke 'frankly' during a negotiation that lasted nearly an hour. The statement emphasized that 'both sides agreed on the necessity of progress in all areas' without detailing specifics. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that Boris Johnson and Hassan Rouhani discussed bilateral relations, the JCPOA, and regional developments. The Guardian, a British newspaper, also reported on Sunday that a brief statement released after the meeting between Boris Johnson and Hassan Rouhani referenced the imposition of restrictions by the UK and the US on Iranian banking and Britain's concerns regarding the situation of dual-national prisoners in Iran during these discussions. Boris Johnson traveled to Tehran on Saturday, December 9, and returned to London the following day. During this two-day trip, he met with not only Hassan Rouhani but also Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday, December 20, regarding Boris Johnson's trip to Tehran: 'Ms. Zaghari is Iranian and has been convicted by our judicial system and is serving her sentence.' He added: 'The Foreign Minister (of Iran) indicated during the discussions that he would raise this woman's case with Iranian officials considering humanitarian issues, but this is a judicial matter.' Meanwhile, reports indicate that Boris Johnson met with Nazanin Zaghari's family, who has been imprisoned in Iran for 21 months, for a 45-minute meeting on Sunday, December 19. Additionally, the Fars news agency reported on Sunday, citing Mousa Ghazanfari Abadi, the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, denying news of a new trial for Ms. Zaghari, stating, 'There is a possibility that a violation may occur in the future or that a new crime may be discovered that would necessitate a court.' Reports indicated that Ms. Zaghari was supposed to be retried on Sunday. In the meantime, Richard Ratcliffe, Ms. Zaghari's husband, in an interview with Sky News, announced that her trial had been canceled and expressed that he is very 'optimistic' and hopes that Nazanin Zaghari will return home before Christmas this year. Nevertheless, Mr. Ratcliffe mentioned that there could still be developments before his wife's return home, but he is now more hopeful than ever.