BORIS Johnson is not known for his attention to detail, nor for his sensitivity.

However, even he may be regretting the his gaff-prone answer to questions about British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, which inflamed an already very difficult situation.

Yesterday he apologised for his remarks about the mother who is being held in prison in Iran.

And he has pledged to meet Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard.

In our view, this is a case of too little, too late.

And we have major concerns about what happens now.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family have welcomed the apology as a positive mood.

We hope their optimism is well placed.

But we have serious concerns about the foreign secretary’s ability to do the right thing when he has been so cruelly laissez-faire about the whole situation.

Mr Johnson does not seem to be able to grasp the very simple truth that in situations like this every word counts, especially when it is spoken by someone in such a position of authority in government.

He has a lot of work to do to repair the damage he has done, not least the immense worry it has caused Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family.