A CWMBRAN doctor has pleaded for the safe return of her sister-in-law - who is being detained in Iran on matters of "national security".

Rebecca Ratcliffe, has spoken of the ordeal facing her brother's wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is from Iran originally.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her 22-month-old daughter - Dr Ratcliffe's niece - both had their British passports confiscated as the pair visited the country to see family.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who lives in London, is currently being held in solitary confinement in an unknown location in the Kerman Province, while her daughter, Gabriella, stays with her Iranian grandparents.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for Reuters Thompson – the charitable arm of Reuters.

Dr Ratcliffe, who works at the Cwmbran Village Surgery, said: “We first realised it was serious when it became unclear as to why she [Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe] was being detained. "Originally they said she was being detained for a few hours, and then it was a few days and then months.

“But then they moved her into solidarity confinement and the boundaries keep changing.

“Nobody knows why she is being detained – only that it is a matter of national security.”

The GP added that her husband, and own children take comfort in knowing that Gabriella is safe, but worry about the effect the situation could have on her long-term

“You don’t know how much damage this situation can do to someone at that age," she added.

"But she seems to be coping very well for someone who has been ripped away from her mum and dad."

Dr Ratcliffe said that her sister-in-law was able to see Gabriella for the first time this week since her detainment started, on April 3, but Dr Ratcliffe's brother, Richard, has not spoken to his wife since then.

“The chance to see her daughter must have been a great boost for Naz, but she was under the watch of the guards the whole time. I guess it just reminds her of what she is missing as well,” Dr Ratcliffe added.

She said she hopes public response can trigger action to return her sister-in-law and niece home.

“It has been an emotional time for our family," she said. "We’ve had tremendous support from all areas of the media.

"It’s been very difficult as the government haven’t offered to step in and help. Hopefully now that relationship between the UK and Iran is starting to thaw, something can be done."

Dr Ratcliffe’s brother has launched a petition, urging prime minister David Cameron and the Iranian supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to work together and free his wife and daughter.

“As a family, we urge everyone to support and sign the petition to help us get Naz and Gabriella back from Iran, back to the UK where they belong,” Dr Ratcliffe said.

The petition can be found at change.org/p/david-cameron-mp-free-nazanin-ratcliffe

The Foreign Office and the Iranian Embassy were approached for comment, but neither were able to supply one.