Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe: British mother jailed in Iran 'could be released as part of prisoner swap deal'

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe could be released as part of a prisoner swap, Iran's foreign minister has suggested.

The British-Iranian mother was sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying by Tehran's Islamist regime, a charge she vehemently denies.

Javad Zarif said he has the authority to make an "exchange" happen, adding that the United States government knew Iran was prepared to do a swap six months ago.

Speaking at the Asia Society, Mr Zarif said: "We have an Iranian lady in Australia who gave birth to a child in prison, not even on bail, inside prison, on an extradition request by the United States because she was responsible as a translator in a, whatever, in a purchase operation - purchase - of some transmission equipment for Iranian broadcasting company.

"That's her charge. She has been lingering in an Australian jail for the past three years. Now we hear about Nazanin Zaghari (Ratcliffe) and her child, and I feel sorry for them and I have done my best to help, but nobody talks about this lady in Australia who gave birth to a child in prison whose child is growing up outside prison with mother in prison.

"So, what can I do as a foreign minister? And I put this offer on the table publicly now. Exchange them.

"All these people that are in prison, inside the United States, on extradition request from the United States - we believe their charges are phoney.

"The United States believes the charges against these people in Iran are phoney. Fine. Let's not discuss that. Let's have an exchange.

"I'm ready to do it. And I have authority to do it. We've informed the government of the United States six months ago that we are ready - not a response yet. If they tell you anything else, they're lying."

A video of Mr Zarif in conversation with Asia Society president and chief executive Josette Sheeran is posted on the organisation's website.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested with her infant daughter Gabriella on April 3 2016 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport as she prepared to board a plane back to the UK after visiting relatives.

The 40-year-old is serving a five-year sentence in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.

The trial by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran was widely condemned as unfair and she strenuously denies the charges against her.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt granted Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe diplomatic protection last month.

But Tehran refuses to acknowledge her dual nationality and said the UK's actions were illegal.

Mr Hunt met Mr Zarif last September and wrote on Twitter: "I pressed for swift resolution on all our dual national consular cases, including Nazanin. NOT acceptable to detain innocent people arbitrarily at the cost of enormous human anguish."

Prime Minister Theresa May has also told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani she had "serious concerns" about the jailing of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.