Another British-Iranian man, Morad Tahbaz, has been released from an Iranian prison on “furlough” but Tehran would not allow him to fly back with the other two detainees.
British-Iranian nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori are on their way home to the UK after years in Iranian prisons.
Confirming the news to MPs on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told the House of Commons: “They are on their way home. They will land in the UK later today, and they will be reunited with their families.”
It was later revealed the pair had already touched down in Oman, from where they were expected to board a flight to the UK.
Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, tweeted a picture of Mrs Zaghari Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori arriving in his country, posting: “Soon they will be with their loved ones at home.”
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. pic.twitter.com/u5qDQ4sgHC
— Badr Albusaidi – بدر البوسعيدي (@badralbusaidi) March 16, 2022
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker from Hampstead, northwest London, had been detained since her arrest in 2016 on charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government, which she denies.
The environmental conservationist, from Hammersmith, West London, was arrested in 2018 accused of espionage after using cameras to track endangered species.