James Heappey dismisses Pompeo claim that UK paid ‘blood money’ to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

The Government on Friday dismissed suggestions the repayment of a £384 million debt to Iran was “blood money” to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rounded on Britain on Thursday, accusing the Government of rewarding hostage takers with cash that will “terrorise Israel, UK and US”.

But Armed Forces Minister James Heappey rejected the claims saying the payment, which related to a failed military equipment deal in 1979, was a “legitimate debt” owed to Iran.

Asked if the settlement was “blood money”, Mr Heappey told LBC: “It’s not… I would say there was a legitimate debt that we owed. I think it’s right that we have paid that with certain assurances about how that money will be spent.”

Mr Pompeo launched an attack on Britain on Twitter following the announcement of the deal.

He said: “We prevented paying blood money — not rewarding hostage-takers. That cash will terrorise Israel, UK & US. Sadly, Iran, Russia & China, is rolling the West.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained for six years after being accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.

She served five years in an Iranian prison and she has spent the past year on parole at her parents’ home in Tehran in fear she could be sent back to jail at any time.

Tears of joy were shed as she was reunited with her loved ones in the early hours of Thursday after years of a “long and cruel separation” caused by her detention in Iran.