British-Iranian woman could be granted clemency soon, says husband
Husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe says her release "feels quite close" as he waits to find out if she is among 3,000 prisoners granted clemency.
The British-Iranian mother was jailed for five years in 2016, on spying charges which she has always denied.
Nazanin was temporarily released from Tehran's Evin prison in March, as 85,000 inmates in Iran were allowed out to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The 42-year-old woman has been wearing an ankle tag and had to remain within 300m (984ft) of her parent's Tehran home as she waited for a clemency decision.
But her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, told Sky News he was "hopeful" she was among 3,000 prisoners Iran's supreme leader has announced will be granted clemency.
"It feels like we're quite close," he said.
"It feels like things could still go wrong. We've had a number of times where we've been down to the prosecutor's office and been told to come back in a week's time so that might be happening again."
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from Hampstead, north London, was visiting her family for Iranian New Year in 2016 with her young daughter, Gabriella. Whilst on her way back to the UK she was arrested at the airport.
Five months after her arrest, Nazanin was found guilty of "plotting to topple the Iranian regime" as she stood accused of spying.
She remained at her grandparents' house in Tehran for three years so she could visit her mother. But her husband who has remained in the UK, has been campaigning for Nazanin's release since her arrest.
Source: Sky News
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