The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe today said he was “hopeful” after Iran’s foreign minister suggested she could be released in a prisoner swap.
Javad Zarif said he might free the British-Iranian mother, who was sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying, in exchange for an Iranian woman held in Australia.
Richard Ratcliffe said the statement came as a surprise, adding: “I’m hopeful, and of course a little confused and sceptical. But I think it’s good Zarif said her name and was talking about her release — yes, in a complicated way — but talking about her release.”
Speaking at the Asia Society, Mr Zarif said the US government knew Iran was prepared to do a swap six months ago.
Although he did not name the other woman, it is understood to involve Negar Ghodskani, an Iranian arrested on an American extradition request.
He said: “She has been lingering in an Australian jail for the past three years. Now we hear about Nazanin Zaghari [Ratcliffe] and her child, and I feel sorry for them, and I have done my best to help, but nobody talks about this lady in Australia who gave birth to a child in prison whose child is growing up outside prison with mother in prison.
“So, what can I do as a foreign minister? And I put this offer on the table publicly now. Exchange them.”
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been in jail in Tehran since 2016 when she was arrested at the end of a holiday on spying charges, which she vehemently denies.
