-
I am not a 100% sure that even with that money paid (I read about it before) she would have been released, Iran isn't exactly a democracy and they are holding other dual nationals as well.
And it doesn't make it right if they are holding her just to get their money...I know that is probably not the point you are making that is it OK what they are doing.
Still, it is an obligation to be met, so pay up UK. There are concerns the money goes towards the republican guard which of course isn't popular with the UKs mates, so it is not as easy as it looks, still...you can try to work something out, and now they will probably have to.
JWestland-
I am not a 100% sure that even with that money paid (I read about it before) she would have been released, Iran isn't exactly a democracy and they are holding other dual nationals as well.
And it doesn't make it right if they are holding her just to get their money...I know that is probably not the point you are making that is it OK what they are doing.
Still, it is an obligation to be met, so pay up UK. There are concerns the money goes towards the republican guard which of course isn't popular with the UKs mates, so it is not as easy as it looks, still...you can try to work something out, and now they will probably have to.
You are correct, i'm not suggesting that Iran's behaviour is justifiable because of this debt.
Friends better versed in international relations than myself have thought this was actually about that money all along. No idea if they are correct or not. It does seem possible. Political prisoners are often used for leverage in pre-existing disputes.
Stonehedge
It amazes me how many brexiteers think there won't be any consequences for not meeting our legal or financial obligations.
A nice example of how this view is utterly incorrect is what is happening with Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran. She probably would have been released by now if the UK hadn't welched on a contract and spent the last 41 years trying to wiggle out of paying Iran the £400m we owe them in the courts. Even after the the last possible court ruled that the UK still owed the money the UK hid behind EU membership and sanctions as a reason why we couldn't pay them. Now we are out of the EU we are hiding behind not angering the Americans when we want a trade deal.
Being an international relations dick comes back to bite you.
Imagine being a country that took a bunch of money to build some tanks, didn't build the tanks and won't return the money.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/sep/04/uk-defence-secretary-acknowledges-debt-owed-to-iran-over-shahs-tank-order