Freed Iran detainee Anoosheh Ashoori blasts Boris Johnson for ignoring his family’s call for help

The 68-year-old husband and father released last week accused Boris Johnson of “opportunism” after the Prime Minister asked to meet him

Anoosheh Ashoori has blasted Boris Johnson for “opportunism” in asking to meet him after years of ignoring his calls for help.

Speaking to Sky News after being released last week, the freed Iran detainee also revealed an angry voice message his wife sent to the Prime Minister in 2019 and said the UK should have paid its debt to Tehran earlier.

The 68-year-old husband and father, a retired civil engineer, cast doubt over whether he would meet the PM, who he said did not even spare five minutes to call his family while he was jailed in Iran.

Mr Ashoori was imprisoned for five years after he was arrested in Tehran while visiting his elderly mother in 2017.

He described his joy on touching down at Brize Norton on the same plane as charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Appearing on Sky News’ Beth Rigby Interviews, Mr Ashoori voiced his anger over UK delays to paying its debt to Iran, and said his wife Sherry Izadi did not get a response from Mr Johnson when she contacted him about her husband’s case.

Mr Ashoori also told the broadcaster about a voice message he himself sent Mr Johnson, explaining: “That was during the time of the Covid that I was angry because at the same time I was blaming those who had captured us I was blaming the British government, why don’t you do anything about it?”

He added: “I was really angry and that’s why I decided to send that voice message hoping that it would make a change.”

Asked about whether his wife got a response, Mr Ashoori said: “No and it took Richard a hunger strike.”

Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, went on hunger strike twice during his wife’s detention.

Asked again whether his wife had heard back from Mr Johnson, Mr Ashoori said: “No. Unfortunately. She made many attempts and all of them were unsuccessful.”

Now Mr Johnson wants to meet them, according to Mr Ashoori.

“Last night we received a letter, now he’s eager to see us. How would you interpret that?” he said on the programme.

Asked how he feels about it, Mr Ashoori said: “I think that it’s a bit of opportunism involved in it at the same time as all of this has happened under his command.

“So one could argue that it was the British government, the present British government, that succeeded in doing that which is correct, the same time you could say that why didn’t you contact us, my family and now you are eager to do that.

“How would you expect us to absorb that? How would you expect us to think of you with this letter now? Why couldn’t this letter be sent five months ago, a year ago, two years ago? Why now?”

Asked if he will see Mr Johnson, he said: “I’m not sure.”

Mr Ashoori said he “100%” agreed with what Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had said during a press conference about how she should have been released six years ago.

Mr Ashoori said: “I agree with Nazanin 100%. She in fact put her finger on the right button by saying that.

“She should have been here years ago if that debt was paid. That wasn’t a ransom that was a debt that the British government owed.

“It should have been paid and if it was paid perhaps none of this would have happened. So yes, I feel a bit angry.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said it had taken too long for the Government to pay a £400 million debt to Iran, which helped secure her release.

Speaking about his time in Evin Prison, Mr Ashoori said: “Literally that was the valley of hell.

“Because in addition to your own suffering you see the suffering of all the people who are around you.

“Each of them in their own different way. Marriages are breaking up. Families are disintegrating.

“And I was reasoning with myself that when I know that I am innocent I am here, so everybody else can be innocent and be there.”