Iran & the Case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

The release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe comes during a time when negotiations over oil supply and nuclear usage are at a crucial point.

• Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested and detained 6 years ago in Tehran. This week she was released alongside another dual citizen, Anoosheh Ashoori, after the UK paid a long standing debt.
• The UK admitted it owed Iran the debt, but said it could not make the payment whilst Iran was under sanctions. When Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in 2016, Iran linked the arrest to the unpaid debt.
• The release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe comes during a time when the UK, alongside a number of Western allies, are engaged in key nuclear talks with Iran.
• Further, it has come during a period where due to the Ukraine conflict, there has been a global shift in the demand for oil, with a number of sanctions on Russian energy supplies.
• The concern around oil has given Iran an upper hand during recent nuclear talks. Perhaps, this factored into the long standing debt from the UK finally being paid and the two nationals being freed.
• All eyes will be on Iran during the coming weeks to see how the cooperate, both in talks about oil and their nuclear power.