I would like to reassure you that the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) continues to work hard to assist British nationals detained in Iran. My thoughts are with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, and their families. Like you, I want to see them released immediately.

It is deeply concerning that Nazanin has been sentenced to another year in prison after a wholly arbitrary case. British embassy staff in Tehran had requested access to Nazanin’s court hearings, and I know they will redouble their efforts to secure Nazanin’s release following this unjustified, inhumane decision on the part of the Iranian regime.

It has been made clear to the Iranian ambassador that his country’s treatment of Nazanin is cruel, unjustified, unacceptable, and causing enormous amounts of distress. The Iranian authorities have put an intolerable burden on Nazanin and her family, and they are further tarnishing their reputation with their actions.

The UK embassy in Tehran also continues to request consular access to Anoosheh, and has been supporting his family. The UK regularly calls on Iran to release all British-Iranian nationals arbitrarily detained, including Anoosheh, and continues to call for Iran to live up to its responsibilities under international human rights law and the Vienna convention. Cases continue to be raised at senior levels, and discussed at every opportunity with Iranian counterparts.