British-Iranian-American national granted temporary release from Iranian jail
UK Foreign Office working with US to get Morad Tahbaz freed permanently
LONDON
A British-Iranian national who was imprisoned in Iran was granted compassionate leave Wednesday to visit his mother for two days, according to the UK Foreign Office.
Morad Tahbaz, who also holds a US passport, was jailed in 2019 after he was accused of spying for the US.
“The Tahbaz family have confirmed Morad has been released from Evin prison on furlough and is at their home in Tehran,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“Morad is a tri-national and we continue to work closely with the United States to urge the Iranian authorities to permanently release him and allow his departure from Iran.”
Tahbaz was scheduled to be released in March at the same time as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori -- two British-Iranian nationals who had also been imprisoned.
But Tahbaz was only given a few days leave before he was returned to the Evin Prison in Tehran.
Tahbaz is the co-founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation.
Eight other individuals affiliated with the conservationist group were also arrested, along with Tahbaz.
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