It is the picture her family, friends and supporters have been wanting to see for almost six years. Detained British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is pictured on a plane and returning to Britain after the Government settled an outstanding £400 million debt owed to the regime in Tehran.
Foreign Secretary 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.
Her constituency MP Tulip Siddiq shared a picture on her twitter account. She said Nazanin is free and on her way to be reunited with husband Richard and daughter Gabriella.
She wrote: "It's been 6 long years - and I can't believe I can FINALLY share this photo. Nazanin is now in the air flying away from six 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."
The announcement of her freedom 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 £400 million 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.”
