Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today struggled to detail how many more Brits are still being held hostage in Iran as she justified Britain’s relations with Gulf States marred by human rights violations.
Appearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee Ms Truss was asked how many other detainees are being held in the state and how much progress has been made to secure their release.
The Tory leadership hopeful swerved the question and instead told MPs that officials "continue to press the Iranian government on the release of all detainees".
Ms Truss even claimed some families do not want the Government to identify them.
Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, previously said Government officials had warned families against publicising their cases.
The family of Anoosheh Ashoori had also told the Mirror they lived in fear of talking about Mr Ashoori's case, fearful of going against the Foreign Office.
But as officials made no progress in securing the hostage's release, the families with the support of organisations like Amnesty.
Labour's Tulip Siddiq who had also been pushing for Nazanin's release, later hailed Mr Ratcliffe's decision to be “so public and vocal” as the right strategy.
Insisting officials are still working to secure Brit hostages release from Iran, Ms Truss added: "But I can assure you, we continue to talk to the Iranian government and continue to work to secure the release of all detainees."
Conservative MP Royston Smith, a member of the Committee, minutes later directed the same question to Sir Philip Barton, permanent secretary to the Foreign Office who also attempted to dodge the question.
"I think we need to be clear around language. I think you're using the term [hostage] in a broader sense," Sir Philip told Mr Smith, before admitting: "Our director will come to you with the numbers."
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns expressed her concern that Ms Truss and Sir Philip were unable to detail how many other Brits were still unable to return home.
"The purpose of the Foreign Office is to keep British nationals safe abroad!" she told the Committee.
In the same session, the Foreign Secretary classed Saudi Arabia as an "important partner" of the United Kingdom - as she could not recall an occasion she had raised human rights issues with the state.
Quizzed by MPs, on Britain's relationship states including Bahrain, Ms Truss said she would have to provide "precise timing" of when Gulf leaders have been challenged.
Committee member Chris Bryant responded, "You can't remember a single human rights issue you have raised with a Gulf States leader?"
“We are not dealing with a perfect world. We are dealing in a world where we have to make difficult decisions and I think it is right that we build that closer trading relationship with the Gulf States," she responded.
Mr Bryant pressed Ms Truss to say if Saudi Arabina crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
"I think it is right that we build closer trading relationships with Gulf states," she confirmed.
Executions in Saudi Arabia ramped up after Boris Johnson claimed to have raised human rights with Mohammed bin Salman.
In the wake of the Prime Minister's visit to the Middle East on an oil begging mission, seven people were executed.
The Prime Minister claimed "things are changing in Saudi Arabia" and insisted there is "value in engaging" with the state.
