August 19, 2016
British Prime Minister Theresa May has personally telephoned President Rohani to call for the release of an Anglo-Iranian woman held prisoner by Iran since the spring. The personal telephone call raises a new standard for American, Canadian and French leaders who have not so far been willing to make that personal contact for the imprisoned dual nationals.
May’s call put particular pressure on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who has ignored many public demands from Allison Azer for Trudeau to call Rohani as she seeks to get back her four children, who were taken to Iran by her ex-husband.
May’s office said she spoke by telephone to Rohani last Tuesday. It said, “The Prime Minister raised concerns about a number of consular cases involving dual nationals, including that of Mrs. [Nazanin] Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and stressed the importance of resolving these cases as we worked to strengthen our diplomatic relationship.”
The statement did mention by name Kamal Foroughi, 76, the only other Anglo-Iranian known to be imprisoned in Iran. His family said three weeks ago that it had been told Foroughi would be freed the following week. He has not been released.
The phone conversation between Rohani and May was widely reported in the Iranian media. The Iran Times, however, did not see any references in those stories to May’s appeal for the release of dual nationals. The Iranian stories all focused on vague references to improving relations and enhancing ties. It appeared that the government wanted to avoid any mention of a topic that is the major sore point in relations right now.
Charity worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was detained in April while trying to fly out of Iran with her toddler daughter. She has been accused of planning the “soft toppling” of the government.
Iran and Britain have been rebuilding their diplomatic relationship since reopening their respective embassies last year.
Two Iranian-American men—a father and son—are known to be in prison in Iran, along with an Iranian-Canadian woman and a Franco-Iranian woman.
