Boris Johnson has made claims that Gavin Williamson blocked the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, stating that a £400 million deal to bring her home from Iran was refused over concerns that the money might end up in the hands of Hezbollah. Johnson revealed that in 2017, an agreement was reached for Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release in exchange for money owed by the UK to Iran since the 1970s. While the Treasury and Foreign Office approved the deal, Number 10 required all relevant departments, including the Ministry of Defence, to sign off on it.
During his time as foreign secretary, Johnson visited Iran to discuss Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case with President Hassan Rouhani, suggesting that resolving the historical debt issue might lead to progress in the consular cases. Despite believing they had an agreement, the deal was not sanctioned by other departments. Johnson mentioned a moment when he met Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family at the embassy and indicated that progress had been made.
The former prime minister expressed his disappointment when Williamson, as defence secretary, refused to allow the deal to proceed, citing concerns about the funds potentially being used by Hezbollah to buy weapons. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was eventually released in March 2022 during Johnson’s premiership after the UK settled its debt with Iran. However, Johnson himself faced criticism for prolonging her ordeal by incorrectly stating she was training journalists at the time of her arrest in 2016.
After Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release, she confronted Johnson about the impact of his comments during their meeting in Downing Street. Johnson acknowledged the challenges he faced, with some blaming him for her situation while others seemed to revel in his moral struggles. Gavin Williamson has not yet commented on these allegations.
The saga involving Zaghari-Ratcliffe underscores the complexities and challenges of international diplomacy, as well as the interplay of political dynamics within government departments. Johnson’s revelations shine a light on the intricacies and difficulties faced in negotiating sensitive diplomatic matters on the global stage, reminding us of the human cost involved in such high-stakes discussions.