Iran says it will raise British-Iranian national’s case with judiciary

Tehran cites “humanitarian concerns” after Boris Johnson’s visit during which he took up Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe issue.

In this December 9, 2017 photo, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (left) and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, (right), are seen in Tehran at a meeting, during the course of which Mr. Johnson raised the Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe detention issue. On December 11, 2017, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that it would raise the dual national’s case with the judiciary “out of humanitarian concerns.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said it will raise the case of a detained British-Iranian woman with the judiciary “out of humanitarian concerns” following a visit by British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on Monday that the final decision on whether to release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is serving a five-year sentence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, rests with the judiciary.

Mr. Johnson raised the case during a two-day visit to Iran that concluded on Sunday.

Ms, Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker, was detained in April 2016. Her family has denied the allegations against her.

Not a lone case

The woman is among several dual nationals held in Iran, where the judiciary and security forces are dominated by anti-Western hard-liners. It’s unclear whether Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a relative moderate, can secure her release.