Jailed arts worker returned to UK

A British Council arts worker jailed in Iran on espionage charges has returned to the UK.

Aras Amiri has been acquitted of the charges, which she says were levelled because she was associated with the council and rejected an invitation to spy for Iran. 

Amiri was among a group of Iranian citizens with British connections arrested in 2018. She had lived in the UK for a decade before her incarceration.

In a statement last week, the British Council said it had always refuted the charges.

"We are very proud of her work in our London office as an arts programme officer supporting a greater understanding and appreciation of Iranian culture in the UK."