British couple ends hunger strike after prison transfers

A British couple jailed in Iran over spying allegations have ended a three-month hunger strike after their son announced the move on social media. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 45, and Anoosheh Ashoori, 68, were both sentenced in 2022—Zaghari-Ratcliffe to five years and Ashoori to 12 years—on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Their family said the pair stopped refusing food and medical treatment on Thursday after being moved to better conditions in Tehran’s Evin prison.

The hunger strike was a last-ditch effort to draw global attention to their plight and pressure Iran into granting them consular access and medical care. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker, was arrested in 2016 while visiting family and later convicted of plotting to overthrow the government—charges her family and Western governments reject. Ashoori, a retired engineer, was detained in 2017 and accused of espionage. Both have consistently denied wrongdoing. The case has strained UK-Iran relations for years, with multiple failed diplomatic attempts to secure their release.

Their son, Gabriel Ratcliffe, said on Twitter that the couple had stopped the strike after "significant progress" in talks with prison authorities. He did not detail what concessions were made but thanked supporters worldwide for their help. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have long called for their immediate release, citing concerns over due process and prison conditions. Zaghari-Ratcliffe has reportedly suffered from deteriorating health, including thyroid issues and dental problems, while Ashoori has been held in solitary confinement at times.

What happens next remains unclear. The UK government has previously linked their fate to a £400 million debt owed to Iran by the British government, settled in 2023. While Iran has not publicly confirmed any deal, analysts suggest the hunger strike may have forced temporary improvements in their treatment. Their supporters warn that without sustained pressure, the couple could face renewed harsh conditions. The case remains a flashpoint in ongoing tensions between Tehran and Western capitals, with no clear resolution in sight.