Iran may free prisoner in return for UK paying its debt: Report
A British national involved in espionage activities against Iran who has served a five-year jail term and is still on trial for other charges may be released soon in return for London’s commitment to pay off a long-overdue debt to Tehran, according to a report published in the Iranian media.
The semi-official Fars news agency said on Monday that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe could be released within days in return for Britain paying $530 million to Iran to settle a debt related to an unfulfilled military contract that dates back to before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Britain has delayed the payment for many years citing problems faced because of foreign sanctions against Iran.
However, Tehran has insisted the debt should be settled regardless of issues that exit between Iran and the West.
The money is owed to Iran over an upfront payment made by the former Shah of Iran to Britain to buy 1,750 Chieftain tanks and other military vehicles.
The report by Fars said that the prisoner swap deal, which has yet to be confirmed by Iranian and UK officials, may involve the release of two other prisoners from both sides.
Earlier reports on Tuesday said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had had her passport retuned by Iranian officials while others said that a team of British negotiators were in Tehran to discuss the debt issue.
None of those reports have been confirmed by Iranian officials.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday declined to comment on Zaghari’s case and whether there has been direct talks on the debt issue in Tehran although he admitted that talks on consular cases have been going on for a long time.
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