The British-Iranian mother was sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying by Tehran’s Islamist regime, a charge she denied. Javad Zarif said he has the authority to make an “exchange” happen, adding that the United States government knew Iran was prepared to do a swap six months ago. Speaking at the Asia Society, Mr Zarif said: “Now we hear about Nazanin Zaghari (Ratcliffe) and her child, and I feel sorry for them and I have done my best to help, but nobody talks about this lady in Australia who gave birth to a child in prison whose child is growing up outside prison with mother in prison. So, what can I do as a foreign minister? And I put this offer on the table publicly now. Exchange them.”
“All these people that are in prison, inside the United States, on extradition request from the United States – we believe their charges are phoney.
“The United States believes the charges against these people in Iran are phoney. Fine. Let’s not discuss that. Let’s have an exchange.
“I’m ready to do it. And I have authority to do it. We’ve informed the government of the United States six months ago that we are ready – not a response yet. If they tell you anything else, they’re lying.”
Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested with her young daughter Gabriella on April 3 2016 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport as she prepared to board a plane back to the UK after visiting relatives.
The 40-year-old is now serving a five-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
The trial by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran was called unfair and she has always the charges against her.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt granted Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe diplomatic protection last month.
But Tehran refuses to acknowledge her dual nationality and said the UK’s actions were illegal.
Mr Hunt met Mr Zarif last September and said on Twitter: “I pressed for swift resolution on all our dual national consular cases, including Nazanin. NOT acceptable to detain innocent people arbitrarily at the cost of enormous human anguish.”
Prime Minister Theresa May has also told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani she had “serious concerns” about the jailing of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “The treatment of all British-Iranians detained in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is a priority for the Government.
“We remain concerned about all of our consular cases and raise them at every level and every opportunity.”