BORDERS’ MP, John Lamont, has welcomed the release of British prisoners who have been held by Iran for several years.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori have been released and returned to the UK to their families. Morad Tahbaz has also been released from prison on furlough but cannot return to the UK yet.

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was imprisoned for six years on bogus spying charges. Her husband, Richard, has campaigned for her release and recently went on hunger strike.

Mr Lamont who represents Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk had met with Richard on several occasions and has welcomed the agreement between the UK and Iran to release the prisoners.

He said: “This is a huge win for these prisoners who have been held on bogus charges for far too long.

“Richard has put everything on the line to get his wife and the mother of his daughter back. He has ensured that Nazanin has been kept at the top of the political agenda for years.

“I am so delighted that these families can now be reunited after so long. It must have been a tortuous wait.

“My thanks to the Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, as well as the countless number of diplomats who have worked on this case.

“I know that they are continuing to work hard to secure the departure of Morad Tahbaz from Iran.”