Former British ambassador to Iran and hostage come together for marathon promise

A promise between a former British ambassador to Iran and a hostage in captivity will see them run the London Marathon together.

Simon Shercliff met Anoosheh Ashoori when he was in his post in the Middle East, while the latter spent his final few months in an Iranian prison.

Mr Ashoori had been incarcerated as a political prisoner for four-and-a-half years, before being released in March 2022.

“When we first met, Anoosheh was still in jail, but he told me that he was trying to keep fit by running around the prison courtyard,” Mr Shercliff, from Framlingham.

“His dream was to run the London Marathon if he ever made it home, and we made a promise that, if it happened, we would run together.”

While this will be Mr Ashoori’s fourth London Marathon since his release, his running partner, Mr Shercliff, who was involved in the negotiations to secure his release, will take on the 26.2-mile course for the first time, having only recently returned from Iran.

“I met Simon in my darkest days, never sure if I would ever be free and this shared goal helped me to keep my dream of freedom alive,” said Mr Ashoori.

The pair have decided to run together to raise money for Hostage International, a charity co-founded by Sir Terry Waite to support hostages and their families after their release.

“Anoosheh is an extraordinary individual,” said Mr Shercliff. “He has been an inspiration to so many of us, even if we cannot imagine the hardships he went through.

“This promise brought us together, so I was determined to make it come true.”

Having set a target of raising £10,000, the pair have already topped this, with £10,740 secured.

To donate, go to justgiving.com and search for ‘Anoosheh and Simon’.

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