The Kent-based daughter of a British-Iranian man freed from detention in Iran says they can now start to rebuild their families' "rocked" foundations.

Businessman Anoosheh Ashoori lived in the UK for 20 years but was arrested in the Middle East in 2017 after flying out to see his mother.

Like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who he flew home with yesterday, the 67-year-old was one of several Western dual nationals held in Iran on suspicion of spy charges.

Their families have always dismissed these claims as bogus, believing their relatives to have been held hostage, partly as bargaining chips over a £400 million debt Britain owed Iran.

Now after spending nearly five years in detention, Anoosheh has been released.

His daughter Elika, who lives in Dartford and studied at the University of Kent, said she was "delighted" after years of a “long and cruel separation”.

Speaking yesterday in a video message, she said: "My family and I are delighted to confirm that my dad has been released and will be returning to the UK today after five long years.

"This day has been a long time coming and we are thankful of the efforts of everyone involved in bringing him home.

"1,672 days ago our families' foundations were rocked when our father was unjustly detained and taken away from us."

Elika, who has a business selling cakes and macaroons in London's Greenwich Market, said the family could now rebuild its "rocked" foundations with the "cornerstone" in place.

"As you can expected we are receiving a high volume of calls and congratulations," she added.

"We would love to thank all of you who have supported us through the years and for your kind words and also for your patience whilst we celebrate this occasion privately as a family. Thank you everyone."

In an interview with Channel 4, Elika likened his absence to like "being in a time warp" with numerous Christmases and birthdays missed, among other celebratory events.

Alongside Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard, who also carried out a hunger strike, Elika's family have campaigned tirelessly for their relative's release.

Mr Ashoori, a retired civil engineer, was detained in 2017 on spying charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

His release came after the UK settled a debt to Iran dating from the 1970s, when Iran ordered British tanks and armoured vehicles.

The BBC reported that after the Iranian revolution in 1979, the UK cancelled the order and Iran demanded its money back for undelivered vehicles.

On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss called this debt "legitimate" adding that it and the detainees were "parallel issues in our bilateral relationship [with Iran]".

She said: "The release of Nazanin, Anoosheh and Morad is the result of the efforts and dedication of many people both in the FCDO and across government.

"I pay tribute to my predecessors and the PM, who have all worked hard to resolve this issue, and to our brilliant diplomats and officials."

Asked whether Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Mr Ashoori thanked her following their return, Ms Truss said: “Well, I thank them and I thank the families for how stoical they’ve been during this really, really difficult period.

“And we talked about the process that we’ve been through, the difficult last part of making sure that they were able to leave Iran but it’s so fantastic to welcome them back safe and well here in Britain.”