Kamal Foroughi, an 80-year-old man with dual Iranian-British nationality, has returned to Britain nine years after being arrested in Iran on spying charges, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement.
Foroughi, who was working as a business consultant when he was arrested, was released from detention in Tehran in late 2018. But he was unable to return to his family in Britain as he waited for his Iranian passport to be renewed.
"I am pleased and very relieved that Kamal Foroughi has been able to return to the UK and be reunited with his family," said Dominic Raab, Britain's foreign secretary.
"I pay tribute to Kamal and his family, who have been through a terrible ordeal, and now have the opportunity to rebuild their life together."
His son, Kamran Foroughi says Kamal returned two weeks ago in good physical condition and the reason Iran allowed him to leave was the coronavirus outbreak.
There have been calls by international human rights organizations for Iran to release political prisoners amid concerns of the epidemic engulfing prisons. Several have been freed but others with more than five-year sentences are still in jail.
