Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s long wait for freedom continues but lawyers stay hopeful

Despite new charges, political manoeuvring, and condemnation of Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s legal team remains optimistic she will be free soon, reports Diplomatic Editor Kim Sengupta

Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe stands with her father, Richard, in a protest outside the Iranian embassy in London (EPA)

For Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family, the long wait to learn whether she will be freed to return home to England continues with her facing a new set of charges in Iran. 

This is another setback for the aid worker, who was only released from house arrest last weekend after serving a five year sentence, but is not allowed to leave the country with further legal proceedings pending. 

There has been no official statement from the prosecutors about the next step. However Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s lawyers – and, it is believed, those close to her in Iran – are said to be hopeful that she will be cleared of the new charges in a relatively short time.