By Ben Kerrigan-
The Foreign Office headed by Boris Johnson is working on a strategy to achieve the release of the British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and ultimately, save his job.
Ratcliffe has been jailed in Iran for allegedly plotting to topple the Iranian government, an allegation she and her family vehemently denies. The British Iranian woman travelled to Iran in 2016 to introduce her daughter to her parents who live there, but was unfortunate to be arrested under suspicion that she arrived to undermine the authorities there. Her nightmare has left her weakened and disillusioned , as she struggles to come to terms with a fate she never could have imagined. She lies locked up in the notorious Evin prison in the North of Tehran where women are known to have beaten, tortured, and even sexually assaulted. The so-called religious regime is hypocritical in every sense, punishing those who speak up or criticise a regime who operate a dictatorship rule worthy of every kind of criticism.
Her job with Thompson Reuters Foundation- a group that trains journalist- gave the false impression that she had an agenda to empower activists who contend the notorious Iranian government’s human rights violations. Thompson Reuters foundation claim to ”promote the highest standards in journalism and spread excellence in the practice of legal pro bono worldwide”. They also claim to ”act as a source of unbiased thought leadership in areas including slavery and human trafficking, women’s rights and climate and resilience”. The foundation represent all the values the Iranian government defy and dishonour, her association with this honourable foundation must have sent alarm bells ringing in the ears of the notorious Iranian government. Yet, in reality, Ratcliffe was in Iran to see her family. The Iranian government believed she was there to spread propaganda against the government and empower journalists and activists to deal with such a government.
Boris Johnson’s comments simply worsened matters and seemingly confirmed their suspicions , because Johnson is in the heart of the UK Government. The UK Foreign secretary mistakenly inflated matters when he stated that Ratcliffe was in Iran to teach people journalism. A short state television segment, aired in Iran on Wednesday night titled “confession”, said Johnson’s remarks were an “unintended confession of the UK government about the real plot”.
CONFESSION
“Mr Johnson’s inadvertent confession meant that [she] was teaching some Iranian journalists – it was a gaffe that can not be covered up. The sole sentence uttered from the mouth of the UK foreign secretary put the efforts of the British media [propaganda] in vain,” a segment
from the Iranian media claimed. Now a short state TV segment, aired in Iran on Wednesday night and titled “confession”, has said Johnson’s remarks were an “unintended confession of the UK government about the real plot”.
Johnson has offered an apology in Parliament, but last night he was attacked by BBC Question Time’s emotive audience who criticised Prime Minister Theresa May for not sacking him after yet another blunder that appeared to worsen the case of the incarcerated woman. Political insiders believe it will be difficult for Boris Johnson to remain in his job if Ratcliffe’s sentence is increased when she appears again in cour tin a few days time. Ratcliffe from Hamstead in North West London, has reportedly been suicidal and on hunger strike as she shares a jail with leading political activists and journalists in a jail notorious for sexual assaults and high violence.
Ratcliffe was already facing extra charges before Johnson’s gaffe to MP’s , but Iranian authorities have used it as an instrument to try to validate their false claims.
The Foreign Office have a strong package of measures to present to the Iranian government, intended to both ease UK and Iran relations, as well as secure the release of Ratcliffe. It is a diplomatic mission suited to the job occupied by Johnson, but his critics will question whether he can deliver it without another accidental blunder. Uk relations with Iran has long been tense , but a plan has been in the works to improve relations. This emergency situation may have hastened that process, but its success is yet to be seen.
A number of concessions may have to be made for a smooth compromise, crucial areas include the Iranian claim for billions in compensation for Iranian firms that had assets frozen during the era of sanctions, a full easing of banking restriction for Iranian companies and individuals operating in the UK and, most difficult of all, an easing of the threat of US-imposed sanctions on companies that operate in Iran. It will be difficult for a complete deal to be agreed upon in every respect, but all parties will closely work for their mutual interests.