Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe latest news: British aid worker on plane home from Iran

Marcus Parekh
·16-min read
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe latest news: British aid worker on plane home from Iran - Tulip Siddiq/Twitter
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe latest news: British aid worker on plane home from Iran - Tulip Siddiq/Twitter

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has boarded a plane leaving Iran and will be reunited with her family later today.

The British-Iranian aid worker has left along with Anousheh Ashouri, another British-Iranian national, Boris Johnson confirmed.

Iranian state media announced her release, saying she has been "handed over to the British government" after serving her "full sentence".

The news was also confirmed by her local MP Tulip Siddiq, who tweeted a picture of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe on board a flight from Tehran and saying she was "on her way home".

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard Ratcliffe said he was "deeply grateful" for her release and that he and their daughter Gabriella were "looking forward to a new life".

Follow the latest below:

02:48 PM

Gabriella 'singing and playing piano all morning' to celebrate

Richard Ratcliffe has told the media that his daughter Gabriella has been "singing and playing the piano all morning" to celebrate the return of her mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

He added that the family are "looking forward to a new life".

02:45 PM

Nazanin 'asked for a cup of tea': Richard Ratcliffe

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, said she had asked for him to make her a cup of tea on her arrival back in Britain.

Speaking to broadcasters alongside their daughter Gabriella, Mr Ratcliffe said: "There will probably be a couple of days peace and quiet somewhere else, and then back here.

"The first thing she wanted was for me to make her a cup of tea, so we will do (that).

"I think actually we were looking at the house and it needs a bit of tidying, so there might be a bit of tidying, perhaps directed by mummy when she comes back."

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe latest news: British aid worker on plane home from Iran - JUSTIN TALLIS /AFP
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe latest news: British aid worker on plane home from Iran - JUSTIN TALLIS /AFP

02:34 PM

Richard Ratcliffe 'deeply grateful' for Nazanin's release

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard Ratcliffe said he was "deeply grateful" for her release and that he and their daughter Gabriella were "looking forward to a new life".

02:27 PM

Iran claims £400m debt paid 'a few days ago'

Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has claimed that the £400m debt that Britain cleared was paid a "few days ago", according to quotes cited by Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency.

Mr Abdollahian denied that the payment of the debt was linked to the release of the prisoners.

02:25 PM

Ben Wallace signed off on release of funds

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he had authorised the release of the funds to settle the debt.

In a written Commons statement, he said: "On Thursday 10th March 2022 I authorised the release of £393.8 million to discharge the debt owed by the Ministry of Defence-owned company, International Military Services Limited (IMS).'

02:21 PM

Liz Truss to make a statement

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will make a Commons statement on Iran detainees at 3.30pm.

MPs will be able to ask Ms Truss questions once her statement is delivered.

02:09 PM

A timeline of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's detention

01:50 PM

Oman acted as broker: Liz Truss

The foreign office has confirmed that Oman acted as a diplomatic broker to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anousheh Ashouri.

"Last December I met Omani Foreign Minister Badr to secure Oman’s diplomatic assistance. We are grateful to our friends in Oman for their support in securing the return of our nationals," a statement attributed to Liz Truss said.

"Nazanin has been held in Iran for almost six years, and Anoosheh almost five. Morad has been in prison for four. They will be reunited with their families and loved ones," the statement continued.

"Their release is the result of years of hard work and dedication by our brilliant diplomats, and intensive efforts over the past six months. I pay tribute to my predecessors and the Prime Minister, who have all worked hard to resolve this issue."

"We have the deepest admiration for the resolve, courage and determination Nazanin, Anoosheh and Morad, and their families, have shown. They have faced hardship that no family should ever experience and this is a moment of great relief."

01:47 PM

Certainty will only come when plane takes off: Nazanin lawyer

A lawyer who has worked with the family of detained British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said she will not "be certain" until the plane carrying the mother takes off.

Penny Madden QC told the PA news agency: "Well I think we all feel just enormous relief.

"We now know that she is on her way home, she's on the plane. We haven't had confirmation that the plane has actually taken off, but it certainly won't be long.

"So enormous relief, it's been an absolute roller-coaster for the family over the last few days, huge excitement, huge optimism tempered with real anxiety that it felt so close, but one could never be certain until actually that plane takes off.

"The family felt just huge excitement and and enormous relief, it's been six very, very long years.

"I think that's probably case closed in terms of, not only is Nazanin coming home, but we understand that Anoosheh Ashoori is also coming home and that's also fantastic news."

01:44 PM

Thomson Reuters Foundation feared Iranian 'trick'

Monique Villa, the former chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, where Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was previously an employee, said friends and family had been reluctant to confirm she was on the verge of release in case there was a last-minute "trick".

Ms Villa, who said she speaks often virtually with Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her husband Richard, told the PA news agency: "Until the last moment, you never know."

"It has happened a few times that we really thought she would be back home, and then it never happened, so you become very cautious."

"The fact that she got the passport yesterday was absolutely crucial."

"And the chief negotiator of the Foreign Office was in Tehran negotiating, so we knew it was probably close - but you never know, because there can always be a trick or something."

01:35 PM

Liz Truss confirms Britain has paid £400m 'debt'

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss 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.

01:35 PM

Morad Tahbaz released from prison 'on furlough'

Wildlife conservationist Morad Tahbaz, another British national who is detained in Iran, has been released from prison "on furlough", Liz Truss said.

"We will continue to work to secure Morad's departure from Iran," Ms Truss added.

01:26 PM

Iran releases video claiming to show Nazanin boarding plane

Iran's Tasnim news showed a video of what it said was British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe boarding a plane leaving Iran.

The video showed a woman dressed in black Iranian Islamic clothes and did not show her face, boarding the aircraft.

01:23 PM

Tulip Siddiq tweets photo of Nazanin on the plane

01:21 PM

Boris Johnson confirms end to Nazanin's 'unfair detention'

01:18 PM

Liz Truss confirms release

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has confirmed that both Anousheh Ashouri and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have been released from Iranian custody and are heading back to the UK.

The government has previously refused to confirm or deny reports the two had been released.

01:15 PM

Anousheh Ashouri released due to 'age and physical condition': Tehran

Iran's judiciary said on Wednesday that Anousheh Ashouri, a dual UK-Iranian national who was sentenced to 10 years in jail in the Islamic republic, was released.

"Due to his age and physical condition, the court agreed to his conditional release and he was... freed," judiciary spokesman Zabihollah Khodayian was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.

The announcement came shortly after Iranian state television said another dual UK-Iranian national, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, was handed over to the British government.

12:59 PM

Dominic Raab: Do not blame Boris Johnson

The Government has done “everything we can” to ensure the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Dominic Raab has insisted.

Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, asked if ministers would commit to a review of cases including that of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe “to understand what more could have been done by the British Government to secure releases, and whether the lazy comments of the Prime Minister worsened the situation”.

But Mr Raab, the Deputy Prime Minister and a former foreign secretary, insisted his Government had done “absolutely everything we can” to secure her release.

12:53 PM

Amnesty International: Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release not "a moment too soon"

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's chief executive, said: "This is fantastic news, but it hasn't come a moment too soon.

"Nazanin and Anoosheh should never have been detained in the first place - they were both jailed on trumped-up national security charges, a familiar tactic in Iran.

"Nazanin and Anoosheh have unquestionably been used as political pawns by the Iranian authorities - and the Iranian authorities have acted with calculated cruelty, seeking to wring the maximum diplomatic value out of their captivity."

12:30 PM

Iran judiciary confirms Anousheh Ashouri released

Iran's judiciary has also confirmed the release of Anousheh Ashouri from their custody after years of detention.

12:25 PM

Angela Rayner calls for a review

Angela Rayner starts her questions at PMQs by welcoming "the positive steps towards the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anousheh Ashouri​ to the UK".

"I know the minister would agree that this devastating situation must never be repeated, and other British nationals still trapped in Iran need to be brought home.

"So will the minister commit to a review of these cases, to understand what more could have been done by the British Government to secure releases and whether the lazy comments of the Prime Minister worsened the situation?"

12:14 PM

Iran's judiciary confirms Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release

Iran's judiciary has confirmed the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from their custody after years of detention.

12:12 PM

Britain 'can't confirm' release: Dominic Raab

Speaking in place of Boris Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions, Deputy PM Dominic Raab said the UK can’t yet confirm reports she has been freed but “it looks like positive signs”.

"No one wants more than me but I'm sure all members of the House to see Nazanin but also all of the arbitrarily detained nationals reunited with their loved ones".

Mr Raab says he has done "absolutely everything we can" and adds: "She shouldn't give succour to the despotic regime that detained our nationals in Iran or around the world by suggesting it's anyone else's responsibility other than theirs."

You can follow along with all the updates from PNQs with my colleague Dominic Penna on our dedicated live blog here.

12:05 PM

BBC News presenter chokes up as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is released by Iran

11:53 AM

Rebecca Ratcliffe speaks to the BBC

11:47 AM

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe leaves Iran

A source close to the families have told Reuters that both she and Anousheh Ashouri​ have left Iran.

11:43 AM

'London looks forward to welcoming her home': Sadiq Khan

11:34 AM

Britain has paid £400m debt, Iranian state media claim

Iranian state media confirmed her release, saying she has been "handed over to the British government" after serving her "full sentence".

Fars news, which is run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also reported that the British government has paid the $530m (£405m) debt owed to Tehran since the 1970s in relation to the non-delivery of Chieftain tanks.

"Nazanin Zaghari, who was arrested for spying for Britain in Iran, was transferred to Imam Khomeini Airport this morning to exchange with the British team and was handed over to the British team a few minutes ago for $ 530 million," the outlet said

"It is worth mentioning that Zaghari's 5-year sentence has ended and [s]he will probably be exchanged for another hour in exchange for the release of $530 million of blocked Iranian property and the release of an Iranian in Britain."

11:29 AM

Tulip Siddiq sings praises of Liz Truss

11:20 AM

A family's relief

The sister of Nazanin's husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said it felt like they were on the "home run" following the news that Nazanin had been taken to the airport.

Mr Ratcliffe has campaigned endlessly to have his wife freed and taken part in hunger strikes.

Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detained charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, holds her photo outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London, on Nov 9, 2021 - AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detained charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, holds her photo outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London, on Nov 9, 2021 - AP Photo/Frank Augstein

Rebecca Ratcliffe told the BBC: "It is quite emotional day today. It feels like we are on the home run now but until she leaves that airport we can't quite believe it.

"We found out about an hour ago that Nazanin had been picked up and taken to the airport with her parents. She is still actually under Iranian control in the airport.

"She is still not free but it definitely feels she is about to be."

11:16 AM

Local MP is elated

This was the reaction from Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's local MP Tulip Siddiq.

11:15 AM

Keir Starmer: 'There is reason for hope'

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said he was "encouraged" by this morning's news, but noted that she still is yet to reach British soil.

"There's reason for hope and I am encouraged," he told reporters. "It's obviously extremely sensitive after all that she's been through, her family have been through, I think all of us need to just allow the process to complete if it's possible to do so.

"We all desperately want her to be free but it's a very sensitive stage at this stage. I think we need to just let the process continue and hope for the best.

"At this stage, I think there are proceedings in place, there are reasons to be hopeful but I don't think any of us should say or do anything what I hope is a good process."

11:11 AM

How did we get here?

Earlier this morning, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss had both indicated progress was being made in talks to free the pair, with the Foreign Secretary telling Sky News that Britain had a "team in Tehran" and the Government were working “very hard” to secure release of "unfairly detained" nationals, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Reports emerged yesterday that Britain had agreed to pay a debt of about £400million owed for non-delivery of Chieftain tanks in the 1970s.

Ms Truss appeared to confirm those reports this morning, saying on Sky that it was a “priority to pay the debt that we owe to Iran” and that she has been in regular contact with her Iranian counterpart.

The UK has long said that it would pay back the money but continues to insist there is no link between that payment and discussions about the release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

11:09 AM

Why were they held?

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at a Tehran airport in April 2016. She was later convicted of plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment. Her family and employer deny the charge as baseless.

Anousheh Ashouri, a retired engineer and dual British-Iranian national, was sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2019 for spying for Israel's Mossad and two years for "acquiring illegitimate wealth", according to Iran's judiciary.

Anousheh Ashoori and Sherry Izadi - Center for Human Rights in Iran
Anousheh Ashoori and Sherry Izadi - Center for Human Rights in Iran

11:08 AM

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the Iranian-British citizen who has been held in Iran since 2016, has been "handed over" to the British government after serving a six-year sentence, Iranian state television has reported.

The aid worker is currently at the airport in Tehran along with Anousheh Ashouri, another British-Iranian national, and will be allowed to leave Iran.

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