Using dual nationals as diplomatic leverage, as reported in the Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Djalali cases
After Khamenei's 2015 warning about foreign infiltration, the Revolutionary Guards arrested dual nationals including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ahmadreza Djalali. Amnesty and BBC said Iran held Zaghari-Ratcliffe as leverage over a UK debt; she was freed in 2022 when London paid. Djalali remains under a death sentence that rights groups call hostage-taking.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Khamenei warns of foreign infiltration among elites - The Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that in November 2015 Khamenei warned of US plots to infiltrate and reshape beliefs among decision-makers. Coverage linked that climate to later arrests of journalists, activists and dual nationals. Khamenei Rails against US Plots and Authorities Chime in with Crackdown
- Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Djalali detained - BBC News reported that British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in April 2016 while visiting family in Iran. Swedish-Iranian academic Ahmadreza Djalali was also arrested that spring and later sentenced to death on espionage-related charges he denied. Who are the dual nationals jailed in Iran?
- Zaghari freed as UK settles historic military debt - BBC News and Reuters reported that Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were released as Britain settled a GBP 400 million military debt with Iran. Amnesty International called her detention hostage-taking; she said she was told early on that Iran wanted 'something off the Brits'. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: Why has she been freed now?
- Amnesty says Djalali is also held as a hostage - Amnesty International reported that Iranian authorities were holding Djalali under threat of execution to compel a prisoner swap for Iranian officials convicted or on trial abroad, placing his case in the same dual-national leverage pattern. Iran: The Crime of Holding Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe