Just to add to this, Nazanin's MP yesterday harshly criticised Johnson's inaction and negligence over this: “At the heart of this tragic case is the prime minister’s dismal failure to release my constituent and to stand up for her, and his devastating blunder in 2017 when he was foreign secretary – when he exposed his complete ignorance of this tragic case and put more harm in Nazanin’s way. [Johnson] did not even arrange for UK officials to attend Nazanin’s recent court hearing, which might have ensured she got a free and fair trial. He still hasn’t got his government to pay the £400m debt that we as a country owe Iran.”To be clear, international arbitration in 2008 (thirteen years ago!) ruled the UK owed the debt, but in a series of long drawn out court cases, lawyers acting for International Military Services, the Ministry of Defence’s now-defunct arms sales agency, have questioned not only the debt’s size, but at times whether any debt was payable.Just pay it!
Richard Carter ● 1830d