Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe on way home to UK as family ‘looking forward to new life’ – latest news

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been describing efforts to fly Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori back to the UK.

“It was only when we heard that the wheels were up in Tehran that we really knew it was happening,” she said.

Speaking in the Commons, she thanked Labour MP Tulip Siddiq for her campaigning.

“I was just extremely concerned to make sure that Nazanin and Anoosheh had really been able to leave Iran, and I’m so delighted that we are going to be able to welcome them home today,” she said.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult time.”

Oman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi has tweeted a picture of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe arriving in the country with Anoosheh Ashoori.

He said: “Nazanin and Anoosheh have arrived safely in Oman. Sincere thanks for the hard work and good faith in Tehran and London that made this possible.

“Soon they will be with their loved ones at home. We hope this result will bring further progress in the dialogue between the parties.”

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s husband Richard Ratcliffe has said he is “deeply grateful” for her release and is looking forward to “a new life” with his wife and daughter.

Speaking to reporters alongside his daughter Gabriella, Mr Ratcliffe said his wife had asked for a cup of tea on her arrival back in Britain.

Holly Bancroft has the full story:

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has said Morad Tahbaz, who has Iranian, British and American citizenship, is now back home with his family in Tehran.

Ms Truss said the government pushed “very hard” to get Mr Tahbaz out of prison, where he was in “appalling conditions”.

She told the Commons: “I’m pleased to say I have been in touch today and he is now back at his house – with security in place – but he is back at his house with his family in Tehran.

“We will continue to work to get him back home.”

Jo Atkins-Potts, Amnesty International UK’s urgent actions campaigner, welcomed the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori.

But she said Morad Tahbaz and Mehran Raoof were both still being held in Iran.

She said: “This is a huge relief and great news for Nazanin, Anoosheh and their families, who have all been through so much.

“When they’re back, we hope that Nazanin, Anoosheh and their families will be given the space and support they may need after what has clearly been an immensely gruelling ordeal.

“It’s a great day for Nazanin and Anoosheh, but we must now turn our attention to Morad Tahbaz and Mehran Raoof, both of whom are still being held in Iran against their will after receiving similar trumped-up national security charges.

“Liz Truss has spoken about the plight of Morad, but we urgently need to see the government getting behind efforts to secure the full and unconditional release of both Morad and Mehran.”

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has said the “agonies” endured by British dual nationals in Iran “must never happen again”.

She detailed the “intense” talks to resolve the situation, with a final round of negotiations in Muscat, Oman, in February resulting in the agreement.

Ms Truss said the UK will “continue to push with partners” to secure Morad Tahbaz’s permanent release home, noting it is “long overdue”.

She added in the Commons: “We will continue to support other British nationals in Iran who have asked for our help.

“We will work closely with our international partners to urge Iran to end its practice of unfair detention. It remains, and always has been, within Iran’s gift to release any British national who has been unfairly detained.

“The agonies endured by Nazanin, Anoosheh, Morad and their families must never happen again.”

Watch live as Liz Truss discusses release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anousheh Ashoori from Iran

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has touched down in Muscat, where she will now board a flight back to the UK, according to her MP Tulip Siddiq.

The family of British-Iranian Anoosheh Ashoori have said they are looking forward to having their “cornerstone back in place”.

Mr Ashoori, a retired civil engineer who was imprisoned in Iran in 2017 during a routine trip to visit his mother, is currently flying back to the UK alongside Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

His family said in a statement following his release from prison: “We are delighted to confirm that Anoosheh has been released and will be returning to the UK today after five long years.

“This day has been a long time coming, and we are thankful for the efforts of everyone involved in bringing Anoosheh home.

“1672 days ago our family’s foundations were rocked when our father and husband was unjustly detained and taken away from us.

“Now, we can look forward to rebuilding those same foundations with our cornerstone back in place.”