We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Marking 2,000 days since his wife was detained in Iran, Richard Ratcliffe said he thinks she is still a “bargaining chip used in political games”.

Mr Ratcliffe implored the Foreign Office to get tough on Tehran’s “hostage-taking” – as he handed over a petition to Downing Street demanding the release of Nazanin, 43, be negotiated at last.

He and their seven-year-old daughter Gabriella set up a snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square to symbolise their struggle as Britain and Iran continue their wrangling. Almost five and a half years since the nightmare began, Mr Ratcliffe said: “The Government needs to be brave and just start doing things that will cause a rethink amongst those in charge of Iran’s hostage-taking.

“The reason this family is missing someone, who should be with them every day, is that Nazanin is being used in political games.

“We’d love to get back to being a normal family, and I still have every faith that some day we will.

“The Government needs to be clear there is not going to be movement on a whole range of issues unless human beings are brought back.”

Nazanin’s family was joined by Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, as they delivered their message.

British-Iranian Nazanin was held in Tehran in 2016 on national security charges while taking Gabriella to see her family – and was later sentenced to five years in prison.

In April, she was sentenced to a further year and a oneyear travel ban after being convicted of propaganda against Iran’s government. She is currently detained under house arrest, staying in Iran with her mother.

MPs have urged the Prime Minister to call Nazanin a hostage and to end a long-standing row with Iran over a £400million arms deal debt.

It is claimed the UK owes the amount for the non-delivery of Chieftain tanks in 1979.

Last year, the high court in London ruled the UK does not have to pay the £20million minimum interest on the £387million it owes.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss promised Nazanin’s “appalling ordeal” will end, saying: “I pressed the Iranian foreign minister and will continue to press until she returns home.”

Commenting on Ms Truss’s efforts, Mr Ratcliffe said: “I think there needs to be more honesty on what’s going on.

“The Government [has been] very reluctant to do anything too tough, so as to disrupt those negotiations.

“It’s felt like Iran’s been stringing them along.

“It’s felt like we’ve been going for a very long time.

“There have been 2,000 days of ups and downs, twists and turns and false dawns.”

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: “It’s long past time that the UK finally brought this deeply distressing episode to an end.”

Source: Read Full Article