I would like to reassure you that the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) continues to work hard to assist British nationals detained in Iran. My thoughts are with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, and their families. Like you, I want to see them both released immediately.

I recognise that Nazanin’s ongoing furlough under house arrest does not represent the final objective of securing her permanent release, and I am assured that the UK remains focussed on getting Nazanin home. It is appalling that Iran began a new case against Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and threatened her with being returned to prison, and I am relieved that the groundless new trial was adjourned.

On October 29th, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the FCDO, where it was made clear to him that his country’s treatment of Nazanin is unjustified, unacceptable, and causing enormous amounts of distress. The Iranian authorities have put an intolerable burden on Nazanin and her family, and they are further tarnishing their reputation with their actions.

The UK Embassy in Tehran continues to request consular access to Anoosheh, and has been supporting his family. The UK regularly calls on Iran to release all British-Iranian nationals arbitrarily detained, including Mr Ashoori, and continues to call for Iran to live up to its responsibilities under international human rights law and the Vienna convention. Cases continue to be raised at the most senior levels, and discussed at every opportunity with Iranian counterparts.