The family of British-US national Morad Tahbaz have said they feel “abandoned” and revealed the Iranian detainee is on hunger strike.

The wildlife conservationist was released from prison on furlough last week on the same day that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were allowed to return to Britain.

But the 66-year-old, who has cancer and was arrested during a crackdown on environmental activists in 2018, found himself back in custody two days later.

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Britain said it secured Mr Tahbaz’s furlough, along with the release and return of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori.

Mr Tahbaz’s sister said the family had been led to believe that he would be part of the same release deal – and that he was instead now at an “undisclosed location” on hunger strike.

Tahrane Tahbaz told BBC Radio 4: “Frankly, for four years we were led to believe that he would be part of the deal when it was made.

“And that’s what we were told. And the deal was made, the money was paid and he wasn’t part of the deal – and he’s still there – and we’re very worried.

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“We feel very abandoned. His condition remains dire, and we just don’t know how long this is going to take.”

She added: “He was taken back to prison after 48 hours. He wasn’t really on furlough. It seemed more like a visit than a furlough.

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Anoosheh Ashoori: ‘We are one breath away from death‘

“He didn’t have an ankle bracelet put on him. He was with security and, after 48 hours, he was taken back under security – back to the prison.

“We haven’t heard from him since and we have heard through a relative just a few hours ago that he’s been taken from the prison and he’s been taken to an undisclosed location and that he’s gone on hunger strike.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said he had been moved from Evin prison to a residential location in Tehran and that it continues to “lobby the Iranian authorities at the highest levels” to secure his freedom.

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