THE UK government must “redouble” its efforts to secure the release of a British-Iranian woman who has been in jail in Iran for a year and a half, said the Torfaen MP.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, whose sister-in-law Rebecca Ratcliffe is a GP in Cwmbran, was arrested while trying to leave Iran in April 2016 and has been in jail ever since.

And, speaking in Parliament last week during a debate on human right in Iran, Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “While she has been in prison, two further charges have been proffered against Nazanin, accusations of involvement in organisations to overthrow the government.

Addressing Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, who led the debate, the Labour MP said: “Will (Ms Villiers) join me in calling on the foreign secretary to do more and redouble his efforts on this case?”

Ms Villiers replied: “I am happy to do that.”

She added: “I hope that the minister and foreign secretary will do everything they can to try to secure the release of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.”

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s daughter Gabriella has also been denied a return back to the UK and is currently living with her grandparents in the Asian nation.