have decided they no longer need to keep her hostage to put diplomatic pressure on the uk. and that s in part because the uk has paid iran a long standing debt. britain owed iran money for tanks sold in the 1970s, but never delivered after the revolution. the uk feared paying the debt would fund terrorism and breach sanctions. but in a deal finessed by the gulf state of oman, £393 million was finally transferred to iran today, money the government claims will be used for humanitarian purposes, thus avoiding the risk of sanctions. it isn t a ransom, it s a debt, and the point about debt is, first of all, we re a country that pays our debts. and secondly, if you owe a debt, you have to pay it whoever you owe it to. mrs zaghari ratcliffe s also been released because of diplomatic efforts above all by her husband, using everything from publicity to hunger strikes to put pressure on iran and british ministers, who did not always help matters, such as when
and hat s in part because the uk has paid iran a long standing debt. britain owed iran money for tanks sold in the 19705, but never delivered after the revolution. the uk feared paying the debt would fund terrorism and breach sanctions. but in a deal finessed by the gulf state of oman, £393 million was finally transferred to iran today, money the government claims will be used for humanitarian purposes, thus avoiding the risk of sanctions. it isn t a ransom, it s a debt, and the point about debt is, first of all, we re a country that pays our debts. and secondly, if you owe a debt, you have to pay it whoever you owe it to. mrs zaghari ratcliffe s also been released because of diplomatic efforts above all by her husband, using everything from publicity to hunger strikes to put pressure on iran and british ministers, who did not always help matters, such as when borisjohnson told mps this.