Detained British-Iranians Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori returning to UK, Boris Johnson says

Two detained British-Iranians Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori are on their way home to the UK, Boris Johnson has said.

The prime minister and foreign secretary Liz Truss both confirmed reports that the Londoners are flying back to the capital today.

Mum-of-one Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been detained in Iran since 2016, while Mr Ashoori has been in Evin Prison, Tehran, since 2017.

Initially Reuters news agency reported that the pair were en route to Tehran’s airport on Wednesday morning, according to their lawyer Hojjat Kermani.

Iran’s state broadcaster also stated that they were handed over to the British government.

It is believed that the UK has settled the £400 million debt owed to Iran, according to Iranian state media.

Ms Zaghari Ratcliffe’s MP, Tulip Siddiq, also said she is being freed.

She tweeted: “ Nazanin is at the airport in Tehran and on her way home.

“I came into politics to make a difference, and right now I’m feeling like I have.”

Husband Richard Ratcliffe’s Free Nazanin account replied to this saying: “You have made a difference Tulip Siddiq.

“Thanks for all the amazing support you have given to Free Nazanin over these six long years.”

The mum-of-one, 43, of West Hampstead, was arrested in 2016 and accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denied.

She has been unable to leave Iran for almost six years, missing years with her daughter Gabriella, aged seven.

Her MP, Tulip Siddiq, tweeted that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was at the airport in Tehran.

She had been under house arrest and was given her UK passport back this week.

Mr Ratcliffe has been on two hunger strikes to raise awareness of his wife’s plight.

Mr Ashoori, a 68-year-old retired civil engineer from Lewisham, had been detained in Evin Prison, Tehran, since August 2017.

He was arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents for alleged links to Israel during a three-week visit to see his elderly mother, and sentenced to 10 years in prison for “cooperating with a hostile state” and “obtaining illicit funds.

However his family have said this is completely spurious, saying he has never been or had any connection to Israel.

Mr Ashoori - who has dual nationality - first moved to the UK in 1972 to study, and has lived in London with his family since 2005.

According to his family, he has attempted suicide twice and went on a 17-day hunger strike in protest against his detention.

Mr Ashoori’s MP Janet Daby said: “ Anoosheh and Nazanin are at the airport to the UK.

“Amazing news.

“Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ‘leaving Iran’.”

The mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I am delighted to hear that Nazanin is finally free and on her way home to be reunited with her family in the UK – after almost six years of wrongful imprisonment.

“Nazanin and her loved ones have shown great courage, strength and steadfastness during what has been an unimaginably difficult time, and I want to pay tribute to all those who have campaigned tirelessly for her release.

“London looks forward to welcoming her home.”

The prime minister said: “I am very pleased to confirm that the unfair detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori in Iran has ended today, and they will now return to the UK.

“The UK has worked intensively to secure their release and I am delighted they will be reunited with their families and loved ones.”