Iran will keep taking hostages – because no one is willing to stand up to them

The latest release of hostages in Iran only goes to show we must do more to challenge its brazen policy of taking people, writes Richard Ratcliffe whose wife Nazanin was held for six years

Too often it feels like we are still in denial about Iran’s brazenness, still waiting the problem out (PA)

The release of US hostages from Iranian detention this week was big news in our house. My wife Nazanin was captured by the Iranian regime in 2016, and only released to us in March of last year.

Watching people going down the stairs of the plane and stepping into freedom brought back all sorts of memories for our family last year. I was sat in various TV news studios offering dry commentary. And then I saw the shaking hugs of relief, and suddenly I remembered that feeling – that sense of release. Finally, it was safe to feel, after all those long years.

It will be a long journey back to normality. But it is a magical, life-changing first step.