BORIS Johnson failed to offer an apology for his handling of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s detention in Iran when he finally met her on Friday, according to her husband.
Weeks after her release from a six-year detention in the country, the couple and their MP Tulip Siddiq met with the Prime Minister in Downing Street.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained on April 3, 2016, by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Imam Khomeini airport after a holiday visit with daughter Gabriella to her parents.
READ MORE: In Pictures: The battle to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
A year on from her detention, Johnson, then foreign secretary, told a parliamentary committee that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been training journalists in Iran – rather than on a family visit.
This comment was used by authorities in Tehran as evidence for Zaghari-Ratcliffe working against the state at the time of her arrest.
Her eventual release in March followed months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe and daughter Gabriella as they leave 10 Downing Street
Ratcliffe long claimed that his wife was used as a pawn in a dispute between the UK and Iran over unpaid debt linked to an arms deal. It was confirmed that the UK paid the £393.8 million owed to Iran “in parallel” with the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other detainees.
After the meeting with Johnson on Friday Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been critical of the UK Government for the delay in securing her release, did not speak to the media.
Instead, her husband and Siddiq faced reporters. Asked if the Prime Minister apologised during their first meeting since her release, Ratcliffe told reporters in Downing Street: “Not specifically.”
READ MORE: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe slams Tory ministers after Iran ordeal
The Prime Minister looked “quite shocked” when Zaghari-Ratcliffe told him she had lived in the “shadow of his words” for “the best part of four-and-a-half years”, the MP added.
She told broadcasters: “I was really proud of Nazanin. She was sitting next to the Prime Minister, and she told him very clearly and categorically that his words had had a big impact on her and that she had lived in the shadow of his words for the best part of four-and-a-half years.
“I have to say the Prime Minister looked quite shocked, I think, when she said that, but I was really proud she did say that because she wanted to make it clear to him that she’s happy now, she’s grateful, she appreciates the fact that she is home now, but there was a time when the words had a big impact.”
Put to him that he must have felt angry that the Prime Minister’s words had had such a big impact on his wife during her detention in Iran, Ratcliffe said: “No, no … I’m relieved she’s home.”
He said: “I think there is a process to dig through what went wrong, what might have gone better, and probably what could be done to protect people better going forwards.”
Ratcliffe added that Boris Johnson thanked Zaghari-Ratcliffe for a hat she had made for his son, Wilfred, during their meeting.
“In fairness to the Prime Minister, he thanked Nazanin for … she’d made a hat for Wilfred when he was born, his son. So (he) thanked her for the things that she’d sent.”
He went on: “I don’t think it was an abrasive meeting. We are here in happier circumstances than in previous meetings. I’m glad we are.”
Ratcliffe said there was not necessarily “closure” for the family after the meeting, as he reiterated his call for Johnson to give evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into the handling of the case.
Siddiq confirmed that Johnson said he would “look into that”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel