Shabtabnews In this dark night, I have lost my way – Arise from a corner, oh you the star of guidance.
standard.co.uk – Downing Street has defended the payment of £400 million to Iran after the Government was accused of paying “blood money” to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the UK was “rewarding hostage-takers” and that the funds would be used by the regime in Tehran to “terrorise” Israel, Britain and the United States.
However, Downing Street insisted the payment – to settle an outstanding debt dating back more than 40 years – was not “contingent” on the release of detainees by Iran.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the UK had never accepted British nationals being used as “political leverage”, and that the money was “ring-fenced” for the purchase of humanitarian goods.
