THE Foreign Office has warned Brits who have dual Iranian nationality to avoid travelling to Iran.
The advice comes following increasing tensions between the country and the UK, due to the threat of nuclear weapons. Here’s what we know about the conflict.
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What’s the latest on relations between the UK and Iran?
Iran is a year away from developing a nuclear weapon with capabilities of blitzing Britain and America, Jeremy Hunt has said.
The UK Foreign Secretary met with other EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday in light of Tehran’s announcement that it will begin enriching uranium above imposed limits – crucial in the development of nuclear weapons.
Mr Hunt told reporters: “Iran is a still a good year away from developing a nuclear weapon.”
Last week, a bombshell report from the renowned Institute for Science and International Security claimed that efforts are underway at a heavily-fortified facility to hugely increase its uranium stocks.
However, Mr Hunt reiterated that the Iran nuclear deal was not dead “yet”, saying there was a “small window” to save the Iran nuclear deal, as he launched a fresh bid to ease tensions in the Gulf.
He maintained his commitment to work with the European partners of the deal – France and Germany – to find a way to “preserve” the agreement.
However, he warned that if Iran acquired nuclear weapons it would become “a very, very toxic and dangerous situation”.
He added: “Iran is still a good year away from developing a nuclear weapon. We think there is still a closing, but small, window to keep the deal alive.”
And recently The Royal Navy has since sent a destroyer to the Gulf, days after a British frigate chased off Iranian troops as they tried to storm a BP oil tanker in a suspected revenge attack.
HMS Duncan will patrol the busy shipping lane alongside HMS Montrose as all UK flagged vessels were put on the highest security alert level over fears of further retaliation from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Iran has warned Britain “is playing a dangerous game” and warned western forces to “leave the area”.
Last month Iran was accused of attacking tankers with mines, and it has warned of “consequences” after Royal Marines boarded the Grace 1 supertanker suspected of taking crude oil to Syria.
In fresh threats, Iran’s Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told state news agency IRNA: “This is a dangerous game and we advise them not get involved in this game under America’s influence.”
He added: “We ask them again to release the tanker immediately, which will be in all countries’ interest.”
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Is it safe to travel to Iran?
Brits with Iranian passports have been told to avoid all but essential travel to Iran because of an increased risk they will be “arbitrarily detained” by its hardline Islamic regime.
The Foreign Office said Jeremy Hunt had taken the decision to heighten the warning against unnecessary visits to the Middle Eastern country because of the risks “we have seen all too sadly in a number of cases”.
Tehran continues to hold a British-Iranian charity worker, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in prison after convicting her of spying, which she denies.
Mr Hunt has previously vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in his efforts to secure her release.
An FCO spokeswoman said: “The Foreign Secretary has taken the decision to advise against all but essential travel by UK-Iranian dual nationals to Iran.
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“British citizens who also hold Iranian nationality face risks if they travel to Iran, as we have seen all too sadly in a number of cases.
“The Iranian government does not recognise dual nationality so if a dual national is detained our ability to provide support is extremely limited.”
Iran has been rocked by economic unrest in recent months and US sanctions linked to its nuclear programme due to be reinstated in November are likely to make matters worse.
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What is the new travel advice?
The latest travel advice from the Foreign Office warns: “British nationals, in particular dual British/Iranian nationals, face greater risks than nationals of many other countries.
“The security forces may be suspicious of people with British connections.
“The risks are likely to be higher for independent travellers or students than for people travelling as part of an organised tour or business people invited by the Iranian authorities or companies.
“If you have links to any organisation perceived as being anti-Iranian, either within Iran or elsewhere, you may be at even greater risk.”
It goes on to warn that if people are detained the UK Government has “serious concerns that the subsequent judicial process falls below international standards”.
The travel advice continues: “Any behaviour that doesn’t have an obvious explanation can put you at risk, no matter how innocent you believe it to be.
“This may include travel off the beaten track, being present near crowds or sensitive sites, having contact with Iranians who are of interest to the authorities, taking photographs (except in major tourist sites), or behaviour that could be perceived as contrary to official Iranian interpretations of Islam.
“The threat to travellers is likely to be higher if there’s any national unrest, terrorist incident or an increase in tensions between Iran and the international community.”
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Who is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe?
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from Hampstead, north London, was sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying by Tehran’s Islamist regime.
She denies the allegation and said she was on holiday in Iran to allow her daughter to spend time with relatives there.
Her four-year-old daughter Gabriella has been staying with family since Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was detained at Imam Khomeini airport in April 2016.
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