LONDON: British ministers have denied rumors that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe will be released shortly, and condemned Tehran’s use of dual nationals to gain “political leverage.”
In a press conference hosted with his US counterpart, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government is “working very intensively” to secure the release of British-Iranian Zaghari-Ratcliffe, as well as that of other detained dual nationals.
“It is incumbent on Iran, unconditionally, to release those who have been held arbitrarily and in our view unlawfully. The reports are not yet accurate in terms of the suggestion of her release,” Raab said.
Earlier on Monday, Britain’s Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, said British dual nationals should not be used as “political leverage” by Iran, and that their plight should be treated as a separate issue to the legal dispute over an old debt between the two countries.
Virus, climate change and China to dominate Payneâs overseas talks
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Foreign Minister Marise Payne faces fresh scrutiny over Australiaâs lack of ambition on climate change targets and will be the first Morrison government frontbencher to hold in-person talks with members of the Biden administration.
Meetings with fellow foreign ministers are also expected to see democratic nations canvass Chinaâs growing assertiveness and Russian disinformation campaigns, as well as post-COVID-19 recovery.
Marise Payne will visit Britain, Geneva and the United States.Â
Rhett Wyman
Senator Payne left on Monday for the fortnight-long trip, the longest overseas visit a minister has embarked on since the pandemic began.
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