Meet the Americans Released From Iranian Prison

Rezaian, who was taken into custody in July 2014 and convicted on espionage charges past year, was to be flown to Switzerland along with former US Marine Amir Hekmati, pastor Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, US officials said.

Republicans on Capitol Hill and the campaign trail expressed optimism and happiness Saturday about Iran releasing five US citizens, but continued raising concerns about the nuclear deal with Tehran that is expected to be completed this weekend, which could be connected to the accord.

He was convicted of spying and sentenced to death in 2012.

Stateside, advocates have been vying for his release since he has been imprisoned.

Iran agreed to free five Americans including Rezaian and Saeed Abedini, an Iranian-American Christian pastor sentenced to eight years in prison in 2013 on charges of undermining Iran’s national security.

“This is a good day”, President Barack Obama said from the White House.

“(They were released) in return for people that violated Iran sanctions, Iranians that were in prison here for violating those sanctions”, said Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush in New Hampshire yesterday.

“The children are excited. I’ve seen their anguish – how they ached for their husbands and sons”, Obama said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Implementation Day “a significant milestone”, one demonstrating “that worldwide proliferation concerns are best addressed through dialogue and patient diplomacy”.

“I believe he’s still on Iranian soil”, she said. “And the fact that they can get away with it with this administration I think has created an incentive for more governments to do this around the world”. He and his family deny any wrongdoing, and say his imprisonment has included physical and mental torture and long periods of solitary confinement in a tiny cell.

A report by the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted a statement from the Tehran prosecutor’s office as saying the inmates were freed “within the framework of exchanging prisoners”. In addition, the US State Department said it had withdrawn global arrest notices for 14 Iranians wanted on sanctions violations.

These are nevertheless likely to jump now that the United States, European Union and U.N. have scrapped the sanctions in return for Tehran complying with the deal to curb its nuclear ambitions – ambitions that Tehran says were peaceful.

Meanwhile, “Implementation Day” arrived Saturday – that is, the day Iran fulfilled the requirements of the worldwide nuclear pact and sanctions against the country were lifted.

“There were many sceptics who said Iran would never deliver on its side of the bargain, but the independent International Atomic Energy Agency has said they have”. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was also back in Tehran by Sunday.

“As the president himself has acknowledged, Iran is likely to use this cash infusion – more than $100 billion in total – to finance terrorists”, Ryan said in a statement. “What is going to happen today is proof… that major problems in the world could be tackled through dialogue, not threats, pressures and sanctions”.

Kerry said Saturday that the prisoner swap was not formally linked to the nuclear deal, but that it was “accelerated in light of the relationships forged…in the nuclear talks”. The IAEA is also charged with monitoring the country’s program for years to come to ensure that Iran is not moving toward nuclear weapons production. At the same time, the United States will issue guidance to banks and businesses to explain what commerce will be allowed.