The London Telegraph was not immediately able to verify the claim due to the opaque nature of the Iranian prison system.

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But relatives of other detainees in Evin prison said that Moore-Gilbert’s long period in solitary confinement was likely to have severely affected her wellbeing.

“I can’t confirm the accuracy of the news, but Kylie has been held in solitary confinement under IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) control for approaching two years,” said Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of British-Iranian detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

“I have no doubt that that would take anyone into a very dark place. Many other British prisoners have tried to attempt suicide while there - Nazanin first confessed to feeling suicidal after five months [due to] the feeling of being all alone.”

Moore-Gilbert, who studied at Cambridge University, was handed a 10-year prison sentence in 2018 for allegedly violating national security.

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She was working as a lecturer and researcher for University of Melbourne's Asia Institute specialising in Middle East politics before she was imprisoned in October 2018.

The claim comes amid fears that Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been temporarily released from Evin prison due to the coronavirus, may have to return on May 20.

This is because Aras Amiri, another British-Iranian dual citizen and former British Council employee, was sent back behind bars this week, having been placed on furlough on April 9.

Around half of Iran’s prisoners have been placed on temporary release since the outbreak of coronavirus, which has infected more than 100,000 people in the country, but the regime is now slowly taking steps to return to normal.

Iranian authorities have been approached for comment.

Telegraph, London

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