"The British government admits it owes Iran up to £300m, but the countries have wrangled over the precise sum and whether any payment could be made while Tehran was still under EU economic sanctions for its nuclear programme.
Downing Street insists there is no link between the dispute and efforts by the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, to release the Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe during an expected visit to the country soon.
The chances of a settlement in the Chieftain tank dispute are high since both sides have given ground over the sum involved and because economic sanctions were lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Ben Wallace, the current Home Office security minister, said in 2014 before he took the role that the UK government’s handling of the case was “un-British, double-dealing and obfuscatory”.
The Foreign Office said settling the Chieftains dispute was always one of the aims of Johnson’s visit, and could not be described as the price for gaining the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe. "
Stupid bloody government!
Am I An Intolerant Victoria Meldrew?
Good morning Thursday 23 March 2023