Iran claims the UK’s ready to agree deal for Nazanin release

THE family of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have “heard nothing” about her release from prison in Iran, despite claims from Tehran that she would be set free.

Iranian state TV, quoting an anonymous official, said the British mum – jailed over claims she had been spying and conspiring against the Government – would be set free after the UK agreed to pay a £400million “military debt.”

But UK sources played down immediate hopes of a breakthrough.

While making an announcement on a prisoner exchange with America, the official was said to say: “The release of Nazanin ZaghariRatcliffe in exchange for the UK’s payment of its £400million debt to Iran has also been finalised.”

The news was not confirmed by the UK Government, and Nazanin’s family and MP were also given no immediate confirmation.

It’s understood the UK is sticking by its demand, voiced by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday, for Iran to

But her husband says family are still waiting for news

release other dual nationals in Evin Prison.

Richard Ratcliffe said he and his family “have heard nothing” about a deal to secure his wife’s release, which was reported on Iranian state TV yesterday.

Richard told our sister paper the Mirror his “instinct” is that the claims of his wife’s release are “premature”.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We continue to explore options to resolve this 40-year-old case and will not comment further as legal discussions are ongoing.”

Earlier, Raab told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Nazanin was being “subjected to a cat and mouse game” by the Iranians.

And he said the debt “is not actually the thing that is holding us up at the moment”. The dispute dates back to the 70s when the then-shah of Iran paid the UK £400million for 1500 Chieftain tanks.

Britain refused to deliver the tanks to the Islamic Republic after the shah was toppled in 1979 but kept the cash despite British courts accepting it should be repaid.

Raab said it was clear the Iranians were using Nazanin as “leverage” and suggested authorities were holding her “hostage” in treatment amounting to “torture”.

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq, who represents Nazanin’s constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn, said last night: “I have spoken to her family and they have heard nothing confirming any of these rumours.”