Fears for the lives of British-Iranian hostages held in Iran have been raised amid claims the Government is using them as "bargaining chips" for diplomatic negotiations.
Reports suggest the UK Government is collaborating with the United States to release UK and US hostages in Iran simultaneously.
Amnesty International has said it would be "disgraceful" if UK officials have agreed any kind of agreement with the US government to "soft pedal efforts" to bring the hostages home.
Asked about the simultaneous release of UK and US detainees, the PM’s spokesman said: “We are obviously committed to securing the release of Nazanin and the unfairly detained British nationals.
“It wouldn’t be helpful to speculate on what the best approach is to achieve that, but we will push at all levels for immediate and unconditional release.”
Iranian officials have linked the release of Anoosheh Ashoori, Morad Tebaz and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to the £400m debt the British Government owes Iran.
Retired engineer and father Anoosheh Ashoori has been detained in Evin prison since August 2017. He was bundled into a car by Iranian officials when he was on a routine trip to see his elderly mother.
Mr Ashoori, who is approaching his 68th birthday has been subject to torture, forced to sign confessions while sleep deprived and has even embarked on a hunger strike to gain the attention of British officials.
Nazanin, mum of one, has been detained in Iran for more than 2,000 days.
Her unjust sentence ended in April 2021 and her ankle tag was removed. However, a week later she was put back on trial and convicted of a fresh charge with a one-year prison sentence.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has admitted the £400million debt the UK owes to Iran is legitimate, and confirmed it will be paid.
Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s CEO, said: “We’ve always been worried that the cases of Nazanin, Anoosheh Ashoori, Mehran Raoof and Morad Tahbaz were being used as bargaining chips in wider diplomatic negotiations, not least over the Iran nuclear deal.
“It would be nothing less than disgraceful if UK officials have in place any kind of agreement - either formal or implicit - with the US government to soft-pedal over UK efforts to secure the release of Nazanin, Anoosheh and others.
“We need a clear, unequivocal statement from the UK government that its effort to bring Nazanin, Anoosheh, Mehran and Morad home is a serious and ongoing priority, independent of the USA’s own efforts.
“The Prime Minister needs to throw his full weight into the UK’s efforts to free all British nationals arbitrarily held in Iran and reunite them with their families as soon as possible.”
It comes after Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband, expressed his frustration that the Britisih Government appear to be waiting on the US before making moves to free his wife.
He told the BBC : "It feels like Nazanin could have come home but is being held back because of US domestic politics.
"I think it’s clear for the last 6-12 months the UK and US have been negotiating together with a clear expectation for US and UK hostages to be on the table at the same time.
"We’ve been frustrated by that."
Sherry Izadi, Mr Ashoori wife agreed with Richard.
She told the Mirror: "It seems the UK have lacked the political independence needed to free the hostages."
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said settling settling the debt the UK owes Iran is "a sovereign decision for the United Kingdom".
Asked about the £400m debt, he added: “We have always said we are committed to paying the £400m debt to Iran. We will consider all options to resolve this.”
Richard Ratcliffe has undertaken two arduous hunger strikes which achieved little cut through with the Foreign Office.
Last summer the US Secretary of State told the BBC it was a “sovereign decision for the UK” to settle its debt with Iran so Brit hostages can be freed.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the debt is legitimate and the Government wants to pay.
Ms Truss said: "We do want to pay this debt, we recognise it’s a legitimate debt.
“But of course, there are lots of issues, which I’m sure you are quite well aware of.”
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We remain committed to securing the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Anoosheh Ashoori and Morad Tahbaz.
"It is unhelpful to connect wider bilateral issues with those unfairly detained in Iran.
“Separately, the UK has always said we are committed to paying this debt to Iran.
"We continue to explore options as a matter of urgency to resolve this case, and will not comment further as discussions are ongoing.”
