‘A Breakthrough’: British and Iranian officials meet to discuss detainees
Richard Ratcliffe has described talks between the Iranian deputy foreign minister and British officials as "a breakthrough" in his quest to have his wife returned to the UK.
Richard Ratcliffe has described talks between British and Iranian officials as "a breakthrough".
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The husband of Iranian-British detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said today’s meeting between Iranian and British officials is ‘a breakthrough’.
Richard Ratcliffe was speaking ahead of discussions in London between Iranian deputy foreign minister Bagheri Kani and officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Mr Ratcliffe has just left a meeting with Foreign Office minister James Cleverley.
Today marks the 19th day of Ratcliffe’s hunger strike in his campaign to have his wife released from prison and returned home to the UK.
‘I don’t think my body can cope’
City News spoke to Richard Ratcliffe, who was in good spirits but said he was feeling “tired”.
“Over the days it’s been cold sometimes and I definitely feel the cold more on hunger strike.
“It’s the tiredness, it’s like the batteries are flat. And probably each day slightly more so.
“I think we must be getting near the end, and I don’t think my body can cope much more.”
He thanked the politicians, celebrities and members of the public who have visited him.
“I think it definitely gives a strength to continue. I’ve met some lovely people, some really kind people from all walks of life.
“One lady came down the night before her wedding, and just said I want to be here.
“We’ve mostly been asking people to push their MPs, to push Nazanin’s case.
“While we’re here come down and visit, take their picture and pressure the government.
“In the end you want your MPs to pressure the government to doing the right thing.”
‘It could have happened to anybody’
Richard Ratcliffe’s mother, Barbara Ratcliffe, expressed her support for her son’s campaign.
“It could actually have happened to anybody”
“I’m always hopeful. But I have to say we have been told this so many times.
“So I think we’re all a little bit wary of what’s actually going to be said.
“We’re getting people to sign in the book so that Nazanin can actually see how many people do support her.
“She’ll have them when she comes back, but in the mean time we can show bits over WhatsApp to her.”
Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, told City News, “We must remember the other innocent British victims who are caught up in this argument with Iran”.
Sir Ed expressed his hopes that progress would be made in this afternoon’s talks.
“We’ve had a number of false dawns in the past where we’ve thought that we would eventually get their release.”
Officials are expected to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal and the fate of British citizens held in Iran.
According to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family, she was informed by Iranian authorities that she was being detained because of the UK’s failure to pay an outstanding £400 million debt which dates back to the 1970s.
“Irritant to relations”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt described Iran as “an absolutely despicable regime that sponsors terrorism across the Middle East”, but said the UK should pay its debt to the country.
“This is a debt. An international court has said so. The Defence Secretary has said so.
“We should pay it because it is an irritant to relations and whether or not it should be linked to Nazanin’s case, the Iranians certainly do make that linkage.”
Speaking on the same programme, Richard Ratcliffe noted “the Prime Minister back in the day when he was foreign secretary promised he would pay it”.
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Headline‘A Breakthrough’: British and Iranian officials meet to discuss detainees
Short HeadlineIranian-British discussions over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case
StandfirstRichard Ratcliffe has described talks between the Iranian deputy foreign minister and British officials as "a breakthrough" in his quest to have his wife returned to the UK.
The husband of Iranian-British detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said today’s meeting between Iranian and British officials is ‘a breakthrough’.
Richard Ratcliffe was speaking ahead of discussions in London between Iranian deputy foreign minister Bagheri Kani and officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Mr Ratcliffe has just left a meeting with Foreign Office minister James Cleverley.
Today marks the 19th day of Ratcliffe’s hunger strike in his campaign to have his wife released from prison and returned home to the UK.
‘I don’t think my body can cope’
City News spoke to Richard Ratcliffe, who was in good spirits but said he was feeling “tired”.
“Over the days it’s been cold sometimes and I definitely feel the cold more on hunger strike.
“It’s the tiredness, it’s like the batteries are flat. And probably each day slightly more so.
“I think we must be getting near the end, and I don’t think my body can cope much more.”
He thanked the politicians, celebrities and members of the public who have visited him.
“I think it definitely gives a strength to continue. I’ve met some lovely people, some really kind people from all walks of life.
“One lady came down the night before her wedding, and just said I want to be here.
“We’ve mostly been asking people to push their MPs, to push Nazanin’s case.
“While we’re here come down and visit, take their picture and pressure the government.
“In the end you want your MPs to pressure the government to doing the right thing.”
‘It could have happened to anybody’
Richard Ratcliffe’s mother, Barbara Ratcliffe, expressed her support for her son’s campaign.
“It could actually have happened to anybody”
“I’m always hopeful. But I have to say we have been told this so many times.
“So I think we’re all a little bit wary of what’s actually going to be said.
“We’re getting people to sign in the book so that Nazanin can actually see how many people do support her.
“She’ll have them when she comes back, but in the mean time we can show bits over WhatsApp to her.”
Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, told City News, “We must remember the other innocent British victims who are caught up in this argument with Iran”.
Sir Ed expressed his hopes that progress would be made in this afternoon’s talks.
“We’ve had a number of false dawns in the past where we’ve thought that we would eventually get their release.”
Officials are expected to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal and the fate of British citizens held in Iran.
According to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family, she was informed by Iranian authorities that she was being detained because of the UK’s failure to pay an outstanding £400 million debt which dates back to the 1970s.
“Irritant to relations”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt described Iran as “an absolutely despicable regime that sponsors terrorism across the Middle East”, but said the UK should pay its debt to the country.
“This is a debt. An international court has said so. The Defence Secretary has said so.
“We should pay it because it is an irritant to relations and whether or not it should be linked to Nazanin’s case, the Iranians certainly do make that linkage.”
Speaking on the same programme, Richard Ratcliffe noted “the Prime Minister back in the day when he was foreign secretary promised he would pay it”.
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