Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband has demanded “brave” action from the British government as she spends her 2,000th day in detention.
Richard Ratcliffe and their daughter, Gabriella, set up a giant snakes and ladders game outside Parliament, in London, to symbolise the frustrating lack of progress.
“We'd love to get back to being a normal family, and I still have every faith that some day we will,” he said.
Amnesty International said she was the victim of “political games” played between governments.
Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was first detained in April 2016 and convicted on national security charges. She was scheduled to be released in April but has not been allowed home.
She is one of several people with British or dual-British nationality detained in Iran.
“It's felt like we've been going for a very long time,” Mr Ratcliffe said. “It's 2,000 days of ups and downs and twists and turns and false dawns, and snakes and ladders seemed to encapsulate that because we're in the middle of a game between two governments. We're just a bargaining chip in it.”
He urged the government to change its approach to Tehran, especially with the changing of foreign secretary - the fifth minister in the post since Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained. The list of former foreign secretaries includes Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“I think there needs to be more honesty on what's going on. We've been going for 2,000 days, that is symptomatic of it not working so far,” Mr Ratcliffe said.
“We've spent a good year now quite close in the doorway and negotiations going on, and the government [has been] very reluctant to do anything too tough, so as not to disrupt those negotiations. And it's felt like Iran's been stringing them along.
“The government needs to be brave and just start doing things that will cause a rethink among those in charge of Iran's hostage-taking action,” he said.
Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's chief executive, said that while there had previously been strong words from British ministers, strong action was now needed.
“The reason this family is missing someone who should be with them every day, is that Nazanin is being used in political games,” he said.
“The government needs to be clear that there is not going to be movement on a whole range of issues that I think are part of the political game unless these human beings are brought back, reunited with their families, and we remove these players from the game the governments are playing,” he said.
The new Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, has raised the case with her Iranian counterpart.
“She is going through an appalling ordeal. We are working tirelessly to secure her return home to her family,” Ms Truss said.
“I pressed the Iranian foreign minister on this yesterday and will continue to press until she returns home.”
The UAE squad for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
The jiu-jitsu men’s team: Faisal Al Ketbi, Zayed Al Kaabi, Yahia Al Hammadi, Taleb Al Kirbi, Obaid Al Nuaimi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Mazroui, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Salem Al Suwaidi, Khalfan Belhol, Saood Al Hammadi.
Women’s team: Mouza Al Shamsi, Wadeema Al Yafei, Reem Al Hashmi, Mahra Al Hanaei, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Hessa Thani, Salwa Al Ali.
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The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
FIGHT CARD
Fights start from 6pm Friday, January 31
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) v Ahmed Saeb (IRQ)
Women’s bantamweight
Cornelia Holm (SWE) v Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
Welterweight
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Welterweight
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Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) v Delfin Nawen (PHI)
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) v Mohamed El Mokadem (EGY)
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Ramadan Noaman (EGY)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Reydon Romero (PHI)
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Juho Valamaa (FIN)
Featherweight
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Super heavyweight
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Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
AUSTRALIA%20SQUAD
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
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When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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