What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The husband of jailed Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe appears to have accused Donald Trump 's White House of "playing fast and loose with international law" by ordering an Iranian general's death.

Richard Ratcliffe warned it will now be "much harder" to free his "desperate" wife as he confirmed he has requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

British dual national Nazanin was detained in 2016 and sentenced to five years' jail for supposedly plotting against the Iranian regime - which she denies.

Daughter Gabriella finally returned home in October but she still languishes in an Iranian prison.

While Mr Ratcliffe did not name the US or its President, he said: "We and other Brits and other Americans are held as collateral and [this] makes it much harder in our cases to be released any time soon."

Quds Force general Qassem Soleimani was killed by a Reaper drone last Friday in Baghdad, Iraq, on the President's orders.

Mr Ratcliffe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think more broadly, part of our campaigning has always been to call on Iran to uphold international law and to respect UN rulings in Nazanin's case.

"And that gets a bit harder when international law is played fast and loose with by other parties."

(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Image: VIA REUTERS)

It comes as Donald Trump ramps up the threat of war with Iran by threatening to hit Iranian cultural sites - which if carried out would be a war crime.

The US President also vowed to impose sanctions on Iraq if it tells US troops to leave the country.

Iran vowed revenge at the heart of the US as state media claimed millions poured onto Tehran's streets today for Soleimani's funeral.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers and openly wept after one Iranian MP warned: “We can attack the White House itself."

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

America is sending an extra 4,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to reinforce its bases in Iraq - while Tehran placed a £61million bounty on Donald Trump ’s head.

Boris Johnson finally spoke out last night, urging calm on both sides, after he stayed silent for days while he enjoyed a holiday on a Caribbean island.

Britain, German and France issued a joint statement just before midnight warning another crisis "risks jeopardizing years of efforts to stabilize Iraq."

But leaders Johnson, Macron and Merkel stopped short of criticising Donald Trump and instead said they were "gravely concerned by the negative role Iran has played in the region".

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Ratcliffe said he spoke to his wife on Saturday morning and "she was desperate, really worried."

He added: "This is not a case where you can stand on the sidelines and just wait quietly.

"I think there needs to be a real clear clarity of priorities.

"And I think we are asking to meet with Boris Johnson , with us and the other families (of British Iranian prisoners), as soon as possible to give that reassurance."

Agreeing Nazanin could find herself a "pawn in a much bigger battle" he added: "We have always been a chess piece in this game and this chess game has just changed radically."

Former UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned the strike could push Iran to conflict with the West.

Asked if it was wrong to kill Soleimani, Mr Hunt told BBC Breakfast: "Only time will tell the answer to that question.

"But what we have at the moment is a very dangerous tinderbox situation. Both sides are fundamentally underestimating the strength and resolve on the other side."

He added: "Neither sides wants a war, I don't think there will be a war, but both sides will feel the need to retaliate when they're attacked."

Retired army officer Sir Simon Vincent Mayall warned British troops serving in the Middle East could "possibly" be killed in retaliation attacks on US soldiers.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The lieutenant general told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the allies were "joined at the hip" in Iraq and that casualties could be shared if Iran strikes back.

The Ministry of Defence adviser said: "I don't think the British are any more vulnerable than the Americans in this case - we are joined at the hip in this.

"But the Iranians are quite right. Because we're so closely joined in this, any attack on American assets will inevitably, possibly lead to to British casualties as well."

Sir Simon said he expected British diplomats would be talking to their American counterparts on an "hourly basis" to discuss attempts to de-escalate tensions.

In a swipe at President Donald Trump's approach to the crisis, he said: "I think they will be encouraging officials to remind the President all the time that the best way to go forward is with allies and friends and to try and stop this escalatory talk over the Twittersphere."