Boris Johnson Demands Nazanin Zaghari’s Release from Iran to Rouhani

Britain’s Prime Minister held a telephone conversation with Iran’s President and demanded the immediate release of Nazanin Zaghari from Iran and her return to Britain to be with her family. Boris Johnson also called for Iran to return to its nuclear commitments.

Boris Johnson, Britain’s Prime Minister, on Wednesday March 10 (March 20 in the Persian calendar) in a telephone call with Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s President, demanded the immediate release of Nazanin Zaghari and other dual nationals imprisoned in Iran.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, after completing five years of her prison sentence, is not permitted to leave Iran and a new case has been filed against her.

According to a statement from the British Prime Minister’s office, this country has requested that Nazanin Zaghari return to Britain and to her family as soon as possible.

Zaghari, 42, a colleague at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, after completing her sentence and removal of her electronic ankle monitor, has been permitted to move around inside Iran, but her passport has not been returned to her, and next Sunday she must again appear in court for a new case.

According to a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister’s office, Boris Johnson told Rouhani: “While we welcome the end of remote monitoring of Nazanin Zaghari, continuing to restrict her is entirely unacceptable.”

Richard Ratcliffe, Mrs. Zaghari’s husband, said last Sunday (March 7 / March 17 in the Persian calendar), “Nazanin is really happy that with the removal of the electronic ankle monitor she has gained great freedom, but she remains in danger because a new court case is to be held for her”.

Iran Must Return to JCPOA Commitments

Johnson and Rouhani also discussed the JCPOA with each other. According to the British Prime Minister’s office, Boris Johnson emphasized that Britain continues to believe that the nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic is a success and Iran must halt all nuclear activities that violate the JCPOA and return to this agreement.”

Johnson also emphasized the importance of the opportunity provided by the United States for Iran to prepare for its return to the JCPOA should it fulfill its commitments as the Islamic Republic.

Britain, along with France and Germany, has condemned the Islamic Republic’s violations of nuclear commitments in the JCPOA and called for continued access of inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, also said that if Iran returns to its commitments, he is prepared to return to the nuclear agreement. However, Washington stated on Wednesday (March 10 / March 20 in the Persian calendar) that it is not seeking to necessarily conclude an agreement with Iran before the country’s presidential elections in June.

Source: DW