SHARE
The UK and US denied claims by Iranian state media that a prisoner swap was under way after anonymous sources on Sunday said Britain would pay millions of pounds to Tehran to free Iranian-British charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
Hours earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe s torturous treatment by Iran.
She is one of three Iranian-British dual nationals held in Iran and any government deal with Tehran would look to secure the release of all of them.
Anoosheh Ashoori, 66, a retired engineer, is serving a 10-year sentence in Evin prison after being convicted of spying for Israel, despite never having visited the country.
Iran claimed on Sunday that a deal had been reached on exchanging British and American prisoners -Â including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe -Â for Iranian prisoners and funds, but the United States promptly dismissed the reports as false.Â
According to Iranian state TV, an unnamed Iranian official claimed that a deal had been finalised where Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe would be released as soon as the UK repays a 1970s-era arms debt.Â
The official also claimed that Tehran and Washington have agreed on a deal to swap prisoners and to release Iranian funds held in the United States. The release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in exchange for the UK s payment of its 400 million pound-debt to Iran has also been finalized, the official said.Â
Washington rejects US-Iranian prisoner swap reports
The US has said reports of a prisoner swap with Iran are not true. Iranian state media reported that Tehran had struck deals with British and American officials to release prisoners and unfreeze funds.
Iran has reportedly struck major deals to release prisoners and unfreeze funds with the US and UK
The United States has swiftly denied reports about a prisoner swap agreement with Iran, after Iranian state media and a pro-Iranian Lebanese TV channel reported on the alleged deals.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the reports are not true.
White House chief of staff Ron Klain, also told US media that there is no agreement for a prisoner swap.
Updated / Sunday, 2 May 2021
17:15
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held in Iran since 2016
Iranian state TV has claimed Britain will pay a £400 million debt to Tehran in a move that could pave the way for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
But there was no immediate acknowledgement from the UK Government on Sunday that a deal had been struck over the long-running dispute cited as a reason for her detention.
Quoting an anonymous official, a state broadcaster said deals had been reached with both Britain and the US in order to release prisoners with Western links held in Iran.
It was said the UK had agreed to pay the £400 million debt over the non-delivery of tanks dating back to the 1970s.
Джабаров отреагировал на слова о борьбе с «российской пропагандой» iz.ru - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from iz.ru Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.