British mother being held in Iran ‘due to arms debt’
A British mother is being held in Iranian prison because of an
outstanding arms debt between the UK and Iran, her husband has said.
Richard Ratcliffe said today that he believes
his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is being used as a ‘bargaining chip’.
The mother was sentenced to five years in prison
in September after being accused of being a Western spy.
The Thomson Reuters charity worker was visiting
family in April with her now two-year-old daughter, Gabriella, when she was
detained at Tehran Airport.
Richard, who has seen neither for over seven
months, said claims by Iran that his wife is a spy ‘are political code for a
‘bargaining chip with Britain’.
Nazanion was accused of being a Western spy (Picture:
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe/PA Wire)
He said his family has been ‘caught up’ in a
disagreement between the two countries, claiming the UK owes about £500 million
for a tank deal 40 years ago.
He said: ‘There is a link as to why Nazanin is
still being held and the UK government’s reluctance to pay its debts. My family
are caught as collateral.’
On Friday, Nazanin’s family announced she had
ended a five-day hunger strike amid fears they had for her health.
The issue of her continued detention will be
raised at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, Richard said.
The family of Kamal Foroughi,who is also a dual
national, has been long campaigning for his release from an eight year jail
term.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We understand
what a difficult time this is for Mr Foroughi, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and their
families.
‘Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood has
met with the families personally to reassure them that we are doing all we can
to help them.
‘We have raised their cases with the Iranian
government at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every
opportunity.
‘Iran does not recognise dual nationality and
therefore does not grant access to dual nationals.’
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