Britain pays ransom for Iranian spy volunteer Nassanin Zagari Ratcliffe, a Thomson Reuters Foundation volunteer, has been released from prison. She was sentenced by the Iranian government to six years in prison. Nassan’s British passport was returned to Iran and returned to London after a large sum of money was transferred by Britain. The British government transferred Rs 4400 crore. Nassanin was arrested in 2016.
Some reports say that the money paid for Nassan’s release was not a ransom and that Britain had paid off its old debt to Iran. It is reported that the amount was agreed to pay for an arms deal during Shah’s rule. 1750 Chieftains were ordered by Britain to buy tanks and other weapons. However, when the Shah was overthrown in 1979, no weapons were provided. The debt is said to have been repaid by Britain following Nassan’s release.