Nazan’s Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Tehran in 2016 on suspicion of conspiracy against the Iranian government. Anoosheh Ashoori, for his part, was convicted of involvement in the Israeli intelligence service. Both deny the charges.
Iran has released the British prisoner for two years, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffen and Anoosheh Ashoorinto return to Britain.
Both were British and Iranian nationals. They had been convicted of acting against the Iranian state. They denied the charges.
According to Iranian media, they were released after Britain had serviced its old debt of 480 million euros. Before the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Shah Reza Pahlavi had paid a sum for tanks that were never delivered.
Britain has not confirmed the information. Prime minister Boris Johnson however, said earlier that the negotiating team is in Tehran trying to get the duo free.
Verdict on “conspiracy to oust Iranian leadership”
Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 44, was said to have had a little daughter Gabriellan with him on holiday in Iran to meet his relatives when he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to overthrow the Iranian government.
He was in the infamous Evin Prison for four years and under house arrest for two years. The daughter had to stay in the care of her grandparents in Iran, but was allowed to return home in 2019.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe has worked for the media company Thomson Reuters Charity Foundation.
Domestic husband Richard Ratcliffe has been tirelessly campaigning for his wife’s release, first in front of the Iranian embassy in London and later in the British Foreign Office. Ratcliffe even went on a hunger strike twice.
Prosecution for links to Mossad
Anoosheh Ashoori, who went to Britain with Zaghari-Ratcliffe on Wednesday, was arrested in 2017 while she was in Iran to see her mother.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for alleged links to the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. He also sat in Evin prison.
Ashoori and her supporters deny the allegations.
Ashoori is a 68-year-old retired civil engineer.
Human rights organizations accuse Iran of using dual nationals as pawns in negotiations with the West over money or influence.
Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, so detainees cannot receive consular assistance from another country.