Detained British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is returning to Britain after the Government settled an outstanding £400million debt owed to the regime in Tehran.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s MP Tulip Siddiq posted a picture on Twitter of her constituent apparently on the plane home.
The Hampstead and Kilburn MP wrote: “It’s been 6 long years – and I can’t believe I can FINALLY share this photo.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe took a selfie on the plane
@TulipSiddiq
“Nazanin is now in the air flying away from 6 years of hell in Iran.
“My heart goes out to Gabriella and Richard, as her long journey back home to them gets closer by the minute.”
She added that Nazanin had touched down in Muscat, Oman, before boarding a connection flight to the UK.
She also wrote: “I’ve just heard from Richard Ratcliffe that Nazanin has touched down in Muscat, from where she’ll board a flight to the UK.
“Hopefully not long left before we can reunite this amazing family in my constituency.”
The Foreign Secretary said the UK has settled an outstanding £400 million debt with Iran in a way which complies with UK and international sanctions, with the funds that have been released being restricted to humanitarian purposes only.
Liz Truss said Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and a second dual national, Anoosheh Ashoori, will be reunited with their families in the UK after being released by the Iranian authorities.
A third dual national, Morad Tahbaz, has been released from prison on furlough.
The announcement brings an end to a six-year ordeal for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was arrested in 2016 in Tehran on spying charges – allegations she has always denied.
Mr Ashoori has been in prison for almost five years while Mr Tahbaz has been held for four.
Their release follows months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran.
Iranian state media said the UK has “settled a long-overdue debt” of around £400million to Tehran.
It is understood the UK agreed to pay £393.8 million owed to Iran after it cancelled an order of Chieftain tanks following the overthrow of the Shah in the revolution of 1979.
Ms Truss tweeted: “I can confirm Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori will return to the UK today, and Morad Tahbaz has been released from prison on furlough. They will be reunited with their families later today.
“We will continue to work to secure Morad’s departure from Iran.”
