Boris Johnson makes grovelling apology for causing distress to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after gaffe about why jailed British mum was in Iran
GROVELLING Boris Johnson finally apologised for his gaffe over the Brit Mum jailed in Iran – and urged MPs to unite in helping her.
Dragged back to the Commons to Brussels over the affair, the Foreign Secretary repeatedly said “I apologise, I apologise”.
He sparked outrage two weeks ago by telling MPs Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe was teaching journalists when arrested last year.
Her family’s entire defence – and the official Government position – is that she was on holiday.
Mr Johnson said: “It was my mistake, I should have been clearer and I apologise for the distress and anguish caused to Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe and her family.”
Challenged repeatedly by Labour to admit he got it wrong, the Foreign Secretary said: “I have apologised not just for the mistake but the way it was taken and any extra suffering and anguish my words have caused.”
He went on to urge opponents to stop the “political point scoring” and demand Nazanin’s release on humanitarian grounds.
He is meeting Nazanin’s husband Richard Ratcliffe on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of diplomatic protection for her as she fights trumped up spy charges.
It separately emerged that Theresa May has brought up the case twice in face-to-face meetings with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani in the past year.
Earlier distraught Richard Ratcliffe had urged the Foreign Secretary to “solve this mess created in your name”.
Mr Ratcliffe also tore into Environment Secretary Michael Gove for saying on Sunday TV that he had no idea what his wife had been up to in Iran.
He begged Theresa May to remind the Cabinet why she was there.
Richard Ratcliffe on Sunday night insisted the Foreign Secretary should not be sacked despite the “shambles” caused by his remarks.
Iran’s judiciary claims Boris Johnson’s “confession” that Nazanin was teaching journalists has “voided” the UK government’s case. There are fears Tehran could now extend her sentence.
Speaking yesterday the Foreign Secretary once more said: “Our priority now is to do everything we can to get her out of Iran on humanitarian grounds.
“I shall travel to Iran myself later this year to review the full state of our bilateral relations and to drive home the strength of feeling in this House and in the country at large.”
The PM’s official spokesman said the Government was considering granting diplomatic protection to Nazanin – a dual Iranian-British national.
Legal opinion prepared for human rights charity Redress said the Government could grant her diplomatic protection as she is “predominantly” a British citizen who has denied a fair trial.
In a rebuke for Mr Gove, the PM’s official spokesman added: “The Government’s position on this is clear.
“She was there on holiday. It wasn’t for any other purpose.”
