Iran: Detainees

(asked on 20th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of granting diplomatic protection to (a) Anoosheh Ashoori and (b) other dual British nationals detained in Iran.


Answered by
James Cleverly Portrait
James Cleverly
Home Secretary
This question was answered on 25th May 2021

We remain committed to securing the immediate and permanent release of Anoosheh Ashoori and other arbitrarily detained dual British nationals in Iran. Their welfare remains a top priority. Our Embassy in Tehran continues to request consular access to Mr Ashoori and we have been supporting his family since being made aware of his detention. We have recently received Mr Ashoori's diplomatic protection application and officials are currently reviewing the extensive documentation.

The Foreign Secretary continues to raise the UK's concerns about Iran's practice of detaining foreign and dual nationals with Foreign Minister Zarif, most recently on 3 April, and the Prime Minister has raised the issue with President Rouhani on 10 March.

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