Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugged her daughter as she reunited with her family in the UK six years after being arrested in Iran.
Her flight, that also carried Anoosheh Ashoori, touched down at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire shortly after 1am on Thursday morning after years of a 'long and cruel separation'. Touching pictures shared on social media showed the emotional homecoming as Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugged and kissed her young daughter Gabriella and husband Richard.
Mr Ashoori’s family also sobbed as they were reunited at the airport.
READ MORE: Who is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and why was she jailed in Iran?
The pair walked down the aircraft steps together as they landed, as Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe waved at cameras and Mr Ashoori gave a salute and peace sign. The pair smiled and chatted as they walked from the aircraft into a reception building at the airport.
Mr Ashoori appeared to be taking photos with the pilots in the cockpit on the plane, as they waited to disembark. He could be seen posing with two men through the windows of the cockpit.
An emotional video was shared live on Instagram by Mr Ashoori’s daughter Elika as the pair disembarked the plane.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s seven-year-old daughter Gabriella was heard asking 'is that mummy?' and again shouted 'mummy' as her mother walked down the plane’s stairs.
Mr Ratcliffe shook Mr Ashoori’s hand, as Gabriella appeared to run towards her mother, who was out of shot. She then carried the little girl in her arms as they were surrounded by other family members.
Mr Ashoori was then reunited with his family, who were in tears as they embraced. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe then appeared in the video and hugged and kissed her daughter, and asked her 'do I smell nice?' before holding her hands. She also hugged members of the Ashoori family.
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian national, was detained for six years after being accused of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government.
Her ordeal in Iran was brought to an end after the UK government settled an outstanding £400 million debt owed to the regime in Tehran. Her husband Richard, who fought a tenacious battle to secure her release, said it meant 'we can stop being a moment in history and start being a normal family again'.
Mr Ashoori, who was detained in Evin prison for almost five years, was accused of spying. Both have consistently and vigorously denied the allegations.
A third British detainee, Morad Tahbaz, has been released from prison on furlough but remains in Iran.
