Nazanin: Situation 'shocking and desperate'

After a meeting with her husband Richard on Thursday, Hunt described the situation as "shocking and desperate”.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 39, who holds joint British and Iranian nationality, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2016 for spying. She denies all the allegations against her.

Hunt said it was "good to meet Richard Ratcliffe and his family" and "they are showing extraordinary strength and resilience, as is Nazanin".

"We will do everything we can to bring her home,” he added.

Last month the family said the resignation of Hunt’s predecessor as foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, had put her case "at the bottom of the pile”.

In April Richard Ratcliffe said he was disappointed at Johnson's failure to secure his wife's release. ■