Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s five-year sentence is over but she has not been released. 

Yes her electronic tag has been taken off and she can travel where she wants – within Iran.

But Nazanin cannot leave the country. And it seems she must return to court next Sunday.

The British government must now decide how to act.

A dual British-Iranian national is being held against her will in another country with the possibility of facing yet more time in jail.

The Iranians are most likely playing for time.

They know a key date is looming in the decades-long wrangle over hundreds of millions of pounds in debt owed by the UK for tanks ordered before the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979.

The Iranians have made it clear they link the two cases.

In early April a court hearing could see the last hurdles to the repayment of that debt cleared.

The Iranians were never likely to let Nazanin go until that money is paid to the tune of £400m plus interest.

The judiciary is not independent in Iran. It will do the bidding of the government.

If factions powerful enough to demand it insist on Nazanin remaining in custody that is what will happen.

With £400m pounds at stake, it seems likely the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is involved.

In September Iran pulled back from bringing new charges against Nazanin after a diplomatic hue and cry.

Her family will hope that similar pressure can be brought to bear if they try again.

They will hope that this is a temporary delay while the tank debt is finally resolved. If not they could face years more agony.

Related posts:

Israelis vote in fourth election in two years as PM hopes vaccine success will keep him in power At least 15 people killed and 400 unaccounted for after fire in Rohingya refugee camp Girl, 7, reported shot dead in brutal crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar Egypt’s Suez Canal blocked by large shipping container which ran aground Afghan civilians face ‘deadly and dangerous’ situation amid warning Kabul could fall in 90 days Animal shelter workers in Afghanistan evacuated – two weeks after charity’s dogs and cats flown to UK Female challengers launch bids to become France’s first women president At least three dead and five missing as buildings collapse in Sicily gas explosion Pandemic has fuelled ‘billionaire bonanza’ as richest see fortunes double, says Oxfam Far-right French presidential candidate convicted over migrant children comments Palestinian residents facing eviction from disputed property climb on to roof and threaten to set gas canisters on fire Distress signal detected on isolated Tonga islands that are home to 105 people