It was our Foreign Secretary at the time who didnt help her case, as I recall. Whatever happened to him?The ongoing pain that this woman and her family are suffering is disgraceful and nothing less than torture. For a Government of any country to put a woman through what she is going through is sub human and medieval.
That’s our only export bombs and bullets - I support that ban - why on earth would we send this military stuff to a country like this - I don’t support us stealing the money - humanitarian aid and some nice mother’s day’s cards might go down bettervIt is quite appalling but the government must now consider paying Iran the £400m they paid for arms that we did not deliver some decades ago and could not pay due to EU sanctions.
We are no longer under EU rules so could pay the money owed and hopefully see the release of the lady.
Yes I support the ban but the arms sales were agreed back in the 1970's paid for and not delivered now the Iranians want their money back have been to the international court who found in their favour and the rest is history.That’s our only export bombs and bullets - I support that ban - why on earth would we send this military stuff to a country like this -
Too busy killing one another in WalesSend in our forces to extract her.
And kidnapping and ransom are ok?Yes I support the ban but the arms sales were agreed back in the 1970's paid for and not delivered now the Iranians want their money back have been to the international court who found in their favour and the rest is history.
That is an absolutely crass reply R3.Too busy killing one another in Wales
I think you'll find that the Pope is next door, in Iraq!She was given 5 years from the original sentence and has now served that. The fact that she has had her electronic tag removed may offer some hope that she will be released at her next court appearance on Sunday, rather than facing more charges and custody. I can't see how the Iranians would gain anything from retaining her further, as they are not going to get (and shouldn't get) any 'ransom' from the UK. And they may get some diplomatic brownie points from doing that. The fact that the Pope is currently on a visit may well indicate that Iran wants to start to normalise relationships with the West again
Indeed he is in Iraq, had it been in Iran they would probably arrest him and put him under house arrest without reason.I think you'll find that the Pope is next door, in Iraq!
Ah yesI think you'll find that the Pope is next door, in Iraq!
Excellent post. 400 million pounds!! Just think about it for a second.Between 1971 and 1976, the Shah of Iran had signed for 1,500 state-of-the-art Chieftain battle tanks and 250 repair vehicles costing £650 million. Iran paid the British government for the new weaponry up front.
The problem came in 1979 when, with just 185 tanks delivered to Tehran, the Iranian Revolution deposed Shah Pahlavi and installed an Islamic Republic The massive deal, fully sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence, foundered due to sanctions and the Iranians, perhaps understandably, asked for their money back. But Thatcher’s UK government ignored them.
What happened next added injury to insult. The MoD-owned private supply company then sold the embargoed tanks to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq ! Who promptly used them, aided and abetted by the West, in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War. Which cost up to about a million casualties on both sides. It’s not surprising the Iranians are pissed off at us.
I understand that there is a repayment of £390 million that has been agreed by the UK to be repaid soon to Iran. However, that will also go into the embargoed Iran account in a British bank, so the Iranians will still not benefit from the repayment. No wonder the Iranians remain pissed off. But that’s because they are still refining and enriching uranium, hence the sanctions.
I deplore the use of Nazanine Zahari-Ratcliffe as a hostage and bargaining counter in the dispute. Although she was released from jail last year after serving 4 years and then another year under house arrest on a trumped-up charge, the Iranians are threatening to charge her with a new offence (no doubt also trumped up) to send her back to jail. It’s about time our authorities swallowed their pride and got her out, I am afraid. She has been tortured in jail and suffered inhumane treatment. And we need proper diplomacy to reduce tensions in the region.
Ransom?!! The UK owes that money. Read Archibald Knox's post.She was given 5 years from the original sentence and has now served that. The fact that she has had her electronic tag removed may offer some hope that she will be released at her next court appearance on Sunday, rather than facing more charges and custody. I can't see how the Iranians would gain anything from retaining her further, as they are not going to get (and shouldn't get) any 'ransom' from the UK. And they may get some diplomatic brownie points from doing that. The fact that the Pope is currently on a visit may well indicate that Iran wants to start to normalise relationships with the West again
At 70s prices. A lot more now.Excellent post. 400 million pounds!! Just think about it for a second.
Hasten to add, of course it's wrong what the Iranians have been doing, very wrong, but ransom it is not. It's called a bargaining chip, I believe.Ransom?!! The UK owes that money. Read Archibald Knox's post.
It was our Foreign Secretary at the time who didnt help her case, as I recall. Whatever happened to him?
Only on AVFTT.Whilst I'm at it why not blame Boris for it? I expected someone would involve him.
Or because he wears a dressIndeed he is in Iraq, had it been in Iran they would probably arrest him and put him under house arrest without reason.
Hopefull when she is back with her husband and family the English Govt will destroy Iran.
Yeah, we could nuke it. brilliant idea!Hopefull when she is back with her husband and family the English Govt will destroy Iran.
It was Boris' comments to a Commons committee that directly led to her serving 5 years instead of 2. That's a matter of public record. He said she was a journalism teacher, which was interpreted as publishing propaganda against the state.Only on AVFTT.
I know. It was the juxtaposition of you alluding to that followed shortly after by someone being ironic about the inevitability of someone on here blaming Boris - the inference being that there was no good reason to do so.It was Boris' comments to a Commons committee that directly led to her serving 5 years instead of 2. That's a matter of public record. He said she was a journalism teacher, which was interpreted as publishing propaganda against the state.
Suppose it clarifies the point that the woman's suffering is doubled as a consequence of one man's bumbling and not knowing his brief.I know. It was the juxtaposition of you alluding to that followed shortly after by someone being ironic about the inevitability of someone on here blaming Boris - the inference being that there was no good reason to do so.
That's what that tinpot nation is all about it's about time they were dealt with.The ongoing pain that this woman and her family are suffering is disgraceful and nothing less than torture. For a Government of any country to put a woman through what she is going through is sub human and medieval.
I think they need to send all the Iranian diplomats back now arrest the Ambassador on a spying charge sentence him to 5 years in prison and then arrange an exchange, simple and we get to keep the money.Send the SAS in and to hell with the consequences.
As soon as they’ve lifted her round up any Iranian diplomatic staff here and send them home with the money that we owe them.
Money that we do owe them. That much is acknowledged.Don’t we have to pay the money they think we owe them for her to be released?
It doesn't work like it does in the movies.Send the SAS in and to hell with the consequences.
As soon as they’ve lifted her round up any Iranian diplomatic staff here and send them home with the money that we owe them.
They can have the money for me, mate. So long as it’s not part of any deal to get Naz back.I think they need to send all the Iranian diplomats back now arrest the Ambassador on a spying charge sentence him to 5 years in prison and then arrange an exchange, simple and we get to keep the money.
Really?It doesn't work like it does in the movies.
It should be a combo of the A team, 6 million dollar man and the Hulk.Send the SAS in and to hell with the consequences.
As soon as they’ve lifted her round up any Iranian diplomatic staff here and send them home with the money that we owe them.
As, it seems, were the British Embassy who declined to accompany her to court this morning.I think you’ll find the Hulks busy this weekend.
It’s a disgrace, mate.As, it seems, were the British Embassy who declined to accompany her to court this morning.
Still, those poached eggs and spinach on toast won’t eat themselves
Someone should have told Boris Johnson when he was making comments about her 'training journalists'. I cant decide if that was Laurel and Hardy at their best or maybe one of the Austin Powers movies.It doesn't work like it does in the movies.