An experienced hostage negotiator has told a committee of MPs “state-level hostage situations” such as the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe often revolve around the importance of the Foreign Office recognising they are dealing with a “playground bully.”
Last month Iran executed Alireza Akbari, a former deputy defence minister in Iran who was also a British national, despite an appeal by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Akbari was convicted of spying for MI6, an allegation which he and his family had insisted was false.
After Akbari’s death the chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, accused the Iranians of trying to “weaponise” dual nationals….