Sleepy-eyed and clutching a hand-knitted doll, five-year-old Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe fell into her father’s arms as she arrived back at Heathrow.
Her return to Britain late last night followed her parents’ heartrending decision to bring her home to London as they continue a three-year battle for her mother Nazanin’s release from an Iranian jail.
Gabriella was just 22 months old when Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, was arrested and accused of spying in 2016. Her family insist she is innocent and Gabriella has since been living with her grandparents in Tehran.
She now speaks almost no English, but few words were needed as her father Richard scooped her into his arms for the bittersweet reunion at arrivals.
Father and daughter have been able to communicate only via Skype, while Gabriella has been rationed to monthly visits to see her mother in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison.
Her parents agreed she should return to the UK for the start of the school year in September but postponed the decision after Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taken to a psychiatric hospital.
Mr Ratcliffe, from West Hampstead, said: “Gabriella came back to us late at night, a bit uncertain seeing those she only remembered from the phone.
“It has been a long journey to have her home, with bumps right until the end and I am grateful to all those at the British Embassy and Iranian foreign ministry who helped smooth all those last blockages. Of course, the job is not yet done until Nazanin is home. It was a hard goodbye for Nazanin and all her family. But let us hope this homecoming unlocks another.”
A family friend said: “Nobody can really prepare for how emotional a reunion like this can be.
“That light that has been missing from Richard’s eyes returned with Gabriella, but Richard and the whole campaign are absolutely clear: this struggle isn’t over until Nazanin is back in London and the family is whole again.”
Mr Ratcliffe has led a high-profile campaign for the release of his British-Iranian wife who denies the charges and is said to be “extremely frail” both mentally and physically.
The family’s MP, Tulip Siddiq, who has been fighting for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release, said: “Richard and Nazanin have made a decision that no family should have to make.
“It is heartwarming to see Gabriella reunited with her father after 1,300 days in Iran, but heartbreaking that she is separated from her mother Nazanin. Iran must end their hostage diplomacy and release my innocent constituent.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Rabb said: “This is a situation that neither Richard and Nazanin or any other parent should ever have to face. Gabriella is an innocent child and should be able to go to school and be with both her parents. We continue to urge Iran to release Nazanin immediately so the family can be reunited in the UK.”
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