London (CNN) A British lawmaker says there is a "glimmer of hope" for jailed British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after reports she may have been deemed eligible for early release. Tulip Sadiq, Zaghari-Ratcliffe's local MP, welcomed news of a potential change in her status, saying it had given the imprisoned mother a "real boost of positive energy." Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in Tehran in April 2016 and given a five-year sentence on espionage charges that she and her family vehemently deny. Her sister Rebecca Jones, said on Thursday that Zaghari-Ratcliffe's Iranian lawyer was cautiously optimistic at what appeared to be a change in her status. Richard Ratcliffe and wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.

Source: CNN December 21, 2017 13:53 UTC