Jeremy Hunt and Downing Street defend Nazanin after critics said she should be more grateful for release

Downing Street has defended Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after she was criticised for being “ungrateful” for saying the government should have got her out of prison in Iran six years ago.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Clearly someone who has been through something like Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has should not get any abuse.

“As a UK citizen, she is rightly able to voice her opinion on any topic she wishes.”

She’s absolutely right that it took too long to bring her home. I tried my best – as did other foreign secretaries – but if trying our best took six years then we must be honest and say the problem should have been solved earlier.

The comments from the government came as former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt acknowledged the “problem should have been solved earlier”.

Mr Hunt condemned those who criticised Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe after she hit out at the government for her prolonged hostage in Iran.

The former foreign secretary, who failed to get her released, defended Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe on Twitter after she was let out of prison and returned to the UK this week after six years.

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Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returns home

At a press conference on Monday, the 43-year-old hostage survivor said it had taken the government far too long to pay a £400m debt to Iran, which helped secure her release.

But it is right that an independent investigation now takes place as to what those reasons were, something I would be glad to assist with. Such a review also needs to assess whether our current policy is sufficient to stop hostage taking in the future.

PS this kind of open scrutiny as to whether we could do things better is what happens in democratic, open societies. It may be something they don't welcome in places like Iran and Russia but it is why, ultimately, we are wiser and stronger.

She said although she could not be happier to be home, “this should have happened six years ago”.

Since her statement, she has received significant backlash online from people who say she should be grateful.

Mr Hunt responded by tweeting: “Those criticising Nazanin have got it so wrong. She doesn’t owe us gratitude: we owe her an explanation.

“She’s absolutely right that it took too long to bring her home. I tried my best – as did other foreign secretaries – but if trying our best took six years then we must be honest and say the problem should have been solved earlier.”

He added that a turnover of ministers in the role and a reluctance to pay the debt which dated back to the 1970s may have contributed to delays.

An independent investigation into government handling of the case is currently underway to establish the reasons.

Mr Hunt added he is “glad to assist” with the investigation because showing how “we could do things better is what happens in democratic, open societies”, unlike “Iran and Russia”.

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During the press conference on Monday, referencing her husband who thanked the government just moments earlier, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: “I do not really agree with him on that level.”

She went on to say that she had seen five foreign secretaries over the course of six years, adding: “That is unprecedented given the politics of the UK.

“I love you Richard, respect whatever you believe, but I was told many, many times that ‘oh we’re going to get you home’. That never happened.”

While she believes it was “cruel”, she told reporters that she does not want to bear a grudge and described the moment as “glorious”.

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Foreign Affairs Committee agrees to work on state hostage-taking

Mr Hunt’s backing of an independent investigation comes after Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s MP, Tulip Sidiq, called on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee to review the case and ask questions as to why it took so long for the debts to be paid.

The Foreign Affairs Committee has agreed in principle to do work on state hostage-taking.

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Nothing has been formally agreed but Sky understands that it is likely to be agreed in a private meeting in the coming weeks.

When agreed, they will publish terms of reference and then it will be decided what form the ‘work’ will take.

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