Anglo-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, seized in Iran in April 2016
Iran has loudly balked at the release of Anglo-Iranian political prisoners, accusing UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss of “hostile tweets”.
Tehran has held businessman Anoosheh Ashoori since August 2017 and environmentalist Mohrad Tahbaz since January 2018. Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was seized in April 2016 and sentenced to five years. While she was released on furlough in March 2020, amid the Coronavirus pandemic, she has been under house arrest and forbidden from leaving the country with another year added to her term.
Iran’s latest rejection stems from a Wednesday meeting between Foreign Secretary Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the UK’s Truss, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
See also Iran Continues to Stall Over Resumption of Nuclear Talks
After the discussion, Iranian State outlets ignored Truss’s call for the release of the political prisoners. Instead, they emphasized Amir Abdollahian’s insistence that the UK begin repayment of £400 million ($547 million), funds paid by the Shah for Chieftain tanks that were never delivered before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Truss wrote, “I’m absolutely determined to secure the release of detained British nationals. And I want to bring Iran back to the table on the nuclear deal and return to Vienna talks.” She followed up with a tweet on Thursday:
Today marks 2,000 days since Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s cruel separation from her family.
She is going through an appalling ordeal. We are working tirelessly to secure her return home to her family.
I pressed Iran yesterday on this and will continue to until she returns home
— Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 23, 2021
That provoked Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh:
Harsh tweets—contrary to IRL tone—may fetch headlines.
But slogans can never replace lawful verdicts issued by courts.
As FM @Amirabdolahian has made clear, UK must adopt long overdue change in its approach.
— Saeed Khatibzadeh | سعید خطیبزاده (@SKhatibzadeh) September 23, 2021
Khatibzadeh did not clarify what the “change in…approach” meant.
Nor did he refer to any of the Anglo-American political prisoners. However, Iranian outlets wrote, “Zaghari is an Iranian national who lived in Britain at the time of her arrest. Iran does not recognize dual nationality, and considers dual citizens as Iranian citizens only.”
“Again, with the limits from the Supreme Leader’s office, only 3.4% of Iranians were fully vaccinated at the time that Raisi became President in early August.”
What limits??!? What is your evidence for this conspiracy theory? Why can’t you accept that Raisi has been more successful in getting vaccines than Rouhani has? There have been no limits in purchasing or producing vaccines except those made in and shipped from the U.S, France and the U.K.
Hmm, let’s see.
January: Rouhani Government tries to import vaccines — Supreme Leader imposes ban on US- and UK-developed vaccines *from anywhere*
February: Televised launch of vaccination launch
February-August: Despite Government efforts, Covax deliveries restricted from above Government by others
February-August: Only 3.4% of Iranians double vaccinated
August: Limits removed on Covax deliveries and imports of US- and UK-developed vaccines.
Iran’s lead mystical theologian, Ayatollah Hassanzadeh-Amoli, has passed away: https://en.irna.ir/news/84484283/Supreme-Leader-condoles-demise-of-Ayatollah-Hassanzadeh-Amoli
The cleric was widely respected for his knowledge of Islamic philosophy and gnosis (esoteric knowledge of the divine). Very sad day for many Iranians.
Covid-19 Vaccine Imports to Iran Exceed 58 Million Doses: https://financialtribune.com/articles/domestic-economy/110340/covid-19-vaccine-imports-to-iran-exceed-58-million-doses
“A total of 40.73 million doses of Chinese Sinopharm, 1.45 million Chinese AstraZeneca, 2.91 million Japanese AstraZeneca, 1.45 million Italian AstraZeneca (COVAX), 1.05 million Russian Sputnik V, 963,000 Russian AstraZeneca, 700,800 South Korean AstraZeneca (COVAX) and 125,000 Indian Bharat) were imported during the period (Feb 3 to Sept 17).”
Iran has managed to control a deadly surge with the delta variant without importing any of the 3 American-developed vaccines so far (Pfizer, Moderna, J&J): https://en.irna.ir/news/84483621/COVID-19-kills-280-more-Iranians-over-past-24-hours
Imports of safe vaccines – most of them China’s (inactivated virus) Sinopharm – have accelerated under Raisi whereas they stalled under the Rouhani administration. Production of Iran’s own vaccine (Barekat) has increased also: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2021/09/12/666355/Iran-COVIran-Barekat-vaccine-
Perhaps needless to say, Iran didn’t “control” a deadly surge for months — the cases and deaths were the highest of the pandemic.
And to repeat, the mass vaccination program has not been implemented until *after* the inauguration of the Raisi Government, with the Supreme Leader changing his position.
As you know, Scott, Iran has been hit by successive waves as the virus as new variants have emerged that are more infectious, virulent and resistant. The delta variant surge in August lasted a few weeks but was quickly brought under control.
The vaccination program began in February with the Sputnik vaccine – it was targeted at the most vulnerable to begin with (even the WSJ reported this): https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-begins-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-11612892912
Iran started importing Astrazeneca vaccines under COVAX (made outside the UK) in April: http://www.emro.who.int/media/news/islamic-republic-of-iran-receives-first-delivery-of-covid-19-vaccines-through-covax-facility.html
Khamenei never placed any restrictions on imports of vaccines made in Russia, China, India and, of course, those produced in Iran.
Varharan,
“The delta variant surge in August lasted a few weeks but was quickly brought under control.”
False. Cases began to rise from a 7-day average of 7,896 on July 9. It reached a record 39,795 on August. The average was 16,455 on September 23 — still higher than the mark on May 14.
Again, with the limits from the Supreme Leader’s office, only 3.4% of Iranians were fully vaccinated at the time that Raisi became President in early August.
U.S. Official Signals Iran Frustrations, Worries About Tehran’s ‘Plan B’
https://www.rferl.org/a/us-tehran-nuclear/31475131.html
I thought Biden new how bes to deal with mullahs. Huh!
Iran Confirms Death Of Prisoner Who Claimed He Witnessed Torture Of Champion Wrestler
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-confirms-death-of-prisoner-who-claimed-he-witnessed-afkari-s-torture/31476423.html
“Iran has loudly balked at the release of Anglo-Iranian political prisoners, accusing UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss of “hostile tweets”.”
And firing rockets at a country 2000km away is not hostile.
Iran Covid cases and deaths definitely on a downward trend (for now): https://en.irna.ir/news/84482388/COVID-19-kills-284-more-Iranians-over-past-24-hours
Iran has not imported any Pfizer, Moderna or J&J vaccines up till now, although officials now say they are seeking to buy Pfizer vaccines made in Belgium and J&J vaccines made in Germany. Iran has been importing Astrazenca vaccines made in Asia and Italy since April under the COVAX program: https://www.unicef.org/iran/en/press-releases/iran-receives-first-delivery-covid-19-vaccines-through-covax-facility
“Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was seized in April 2016 and sentenced to five years.”
And which “charity” does she work for?…..oh…the Reuters media foundation!
Yes, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charity branch of Reuters “to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights”.
https://www.trust.org/