Iran releases Americans in breakthrough prisoner exchange

For Tehran, the report translates into a huge financial windfall while also helping its efforts at worldwide image rehabilitation. “The United States has considerable leverage with Iran right now to press that point, and we urge you to continue to do so”, the letter said.

The nuclear agreement will take effect when the International Atomic Energy Agency certifies that Iran has met its commitments under the deal it signed last July with six global powers, including the United States.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said that while he is happy for the freed Americans and their families, the US “shouldn’t be involved in swaps”.

The U.S pardoned or dropped the charges against seven Iranians in a prisoner swap for the release of four Americans held by Iran.

Lifting sanctions will allow Iran to immediately recoup some $100 billion in assets frozen overseas. Rezaian is a dual Iran-U.S. citizen who was convicted of espionage in a closed-door trial in 2015.

In addition, the US will drop Interpol “red notices” – essentially arrest warrants – on 14 Iranian fugitives it has sought, officials said.

An informed source told IRINN on Saturday that the names of the released inmates are the Iranian-Americans: Saeed Abedini, Amir Mirzaee Hekmati, Nosratollah Khosravi and Jason Rezaian.

Rezaian was detained by Iran in 2014 and eventually charged with espionage and other crimes, according to the Washington Post.

“It tells us all we need to know about the Iranian regime, that they take people hostage in order to gain concessions and the fact that they can get away with it with this administration”, he said.

USA officials have not confirmed the report.

Executives from 25 news organizations urged Secretary of State John Kerry to push Tehran for Rezaian’s release in a letter this month.

Iran and the United States have been careful to avoid prolonging fights that would derail the nuclear deal’s implementation or the exchange of prisoners.

“Considering how little value the Ministry of Intelligence places on my Iranian citizenship and passport, I, too, place little value on them and inform you, effectively that I formally renounce my Iranian citizenship and passport”.

The Washington Post welcomed Iran’s release of its reporter Jason Rezaian in a message from its publisher Frederick Ryan. Hekmati is a former Marine who spent more than four years in prison on spying charges following his arrest in August 2011 during a visit to see his grandmother.

Iran denied any work or interest in nuclear arms even after the IAEA closed a prolonged probe with a November assessment that Tehran had an organized research and development program into such weapons up to 2003 and more scattered research and development activities up to 2009.

A fifth American, identified as Matthew Trevitick, was also released as a separate but “associated goodwill gesture”.

CNN is reporting that Rezaian was among those released. “As I said in Thursday’s debate, Barack Obama’s deal with Iran must be shredded and I intend to do that on day one of my presidency”. The seven were accused or convicted of violating USA sanctions.

Judicial authorities were adept, however, at making announcements or staging hearings during sensitive periods of the nuclear negotiations.

Trevithick’s family said in a statement that he went to Iran in September for a four-month language program only to be arrested and spend 40 days in Evin Prison.

Robert Levinson, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and Drug Enforcement Administration agent, who disappeared in Iran since 2007, was not on the list.