The Government is calling for the release of a British pensioner described by his family as “one of the oldest and loneliest prisoners in Iran”.
Kamal Foroughi was arrested four years ago after being accused of spying while working in the capital Tehran as a consultant for oil and gas company Petronas.
British authorities have said they are “very concerned” for the 76-year-old’s health and are urging his release on medical grounds.
While Mr Foroughi is a dual British-Iranian citizen, Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and is understood not to have allowed consular access.
Mr Foroughi denied being involved in espionage, his son Kamran said, but was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to eight years in prison.
The years since his arrest have been a “total nightmare” for the family, he said, adding that they had no contact with him until the past year when they have been allowed short phone calls.
He told the newspaper: “However, no written correspondence, photos or videos are allowed. Family or friends cannot visit him. He is one of the oldest and loneliest prisoners in Iran.”
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has raised the case with Iran’s president and foreign minister.
“We have been in regular contact with Mr Foroughi’s family since May 2013, when we were first made aware of his situation. We are very concerned for his health and have raised this with the Iranian authorities on repeated occasions, urging them to provide regular medical assistance and access to a lawyer.
“The Foreign Secretary raised this case with president (Hassan) Rouhani during his visit to Tehran in August, and more recently with foreign minister (Mohammad Javad) Zarif at the UN just two weeks ago. We will continue to raise it with the Iranian government at every opportunity, seeking Mr Foroughi’s release on medical grounds.”
Mr Foroughi’s wife, children and granddaughters live in the UK.
Earlier this week Downing Street said David Cameron would personally intervene in the “extremely concerning” case of a British oil worker jailed in Saudi Arabia amid reports he faced 350 lashes.
Karl Andree, who has battled cancer and suffers from asthma, was arrested in Jeddah in August last year for breaching the country’s strict anti-alcohol laws.
He was due to be released two months ago but his family went public as concerns grew he would be flogged after serving 12 months in prison.