Husband says British-Iranian wife is being held as ‘bargaining chip’ for unpaid UK-Iran arms deal.

Richard Ratcliffe  claims his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian charity worker imprisoned in Iran for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Government, is being held as a “bargaining chip”  for an outstanding arms debt from almost 40 years ago that Britain is refusing to pay.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe  was seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on April 3 at Imam Khomeini airport as she was travelling back to Britain with her 2 year old daughter Gabriella after a trip to visit family.

Richard Ratcliffe has now accused the UK Government of “not having my family’s best interests at heart” and has repeated calls for Foreign Office intervention to secure his wife’s release. He says, “Until recently it had been mystifying why the government has behaved so strangely these past eight months. It has never once criticised Iran’s treatment of Nazanin, and abuse of her human rights, nor the arbitrary nature of her detention and trial – unlike for instance the UN.  I have to pinch myself – to remind myself that Nazanin and Gabriella are British. So I have long wondered what else is going on? 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.”

The unpaid debt hinges on an arms deal signed by the Shah before the Iranian revolution for 1,500 Chieftain battle tanks and 250 repair vehicles costing £650m. The Shah reportedly paid for the arms upfront, however, after he was deposed and the deal was not completed, with only 185 tanks being delivered.  Following a legal battle the European court ruled that Britain should repay £400m. However, despite EU sanctions that means the money cannot be handed back to the Iranian defence ministry.

Mr Ratcliffe said, “Currently we claim [the money] is bound by EU sanctions – which is true only insofar as we want it to be. The debt is to the government of Iran, only parts of that government are under sanctions. To Iran, it looks like hiding behind sanctions casuistry, just the latest ruse. As Nazanin’s husband, it looks that way to me. We have spent almost 40 years finding ways not to pay the Iranians back. Iran tried various diplomatic routes before in the end taking the UK to the International Court of Arbitration. After lots of appeals and counter appeals, Iran won back in 2010. But still it has not been paid. As the negotiations have gone on, they have become increasingly angry, and increasingly willing to signal it.”

The Foreign Office has rejected the claim, saying it is doing all it can to help the charity worker and her family.

Amnesty International reported that Nazanin  ended a five-day hunger strike “for the sake of her daughter”, amid reports in previous weeks that her health has been deteriorating. Amnesty International reiterated its concerns for Nazanin’s welfare on Tuesday and urged the UK Government to secure her freedom.