Boris Johnson could face early diplomatic test as Iran ‘exploits’ political uncertainty

Iran’s seizure of a British oil tanker couldn’t have come at a worse time for the UK – and Tehran knows it.

While Theresa May has days left as Prime Minister, her foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has been in the midst of a leadership election campaign to replace her.

His rival, Boris Johnson, is the favourite to win the Tory battle, but the former foreign secretary will be carrying diplomatic baggage if he enters Number 10.

During his tenure in the Foreign Office, Mr Johnson was accused of making matters worse for Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian mother jailed in Tehran on spying charges.

Britain’s then top diplomat incorrectly stated that she was "teaching people journalism"…

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