Iran Free Washington Post Reporter In US Swap Deal
From Geneva, they are to be flown to a USA air base in Germany.
The four prisoners were released as part of an exchange which included the release of seven Iranians and Iranian-Americans in US custody.
But Rouhani noted bitter opposition to the lifting of economic curbs from Israel, some members of the U.S. Congress and what he called “warmongers” in the region – an apparent reference to some of Iran’s Gulf Arab adversaries, not least Saudi Arabia.
Republican presidential candidates celebrated the release of five American prisoners from Iran Saturday, but many criticized the Obama administration’s decision to swap Iranian prisoners to secure their release.
It’s unclear if these individuals will leave the USA for Iran. “We have to be grateful that those folks are being sent home but we also have to scrutinize what this president gave away in the process”, Christie said.
“Through a diplomatic channel that was established with the focus of getting our detained USA citizens home, we can confirm Iran has released from imprisonment four Americans detained in Iran”, one of the USA officials said. There were no additional details. “I’m happy they’re coming back, but I will tell you it’s a disgrace they’ve been there so long”.
Jehl said he is both relieved and elated.
The newspaper and the United States have called the charges “absurd”.
EMAD KIYAEI: I totally agree with his assessment, especially because if you look at the two and a half years of negotiations, they were not only just intense.
Rezaian “will be reunited with his family, including his brother Ali, his most effective and tireless advocate”, the Post said.
“Our prayers have been answered today, as Pastor Abedini will return home to his wife and children in America”, said Kentucky Sen. US President Barack Obama met his wife and children in 2015. He didn’t name the Iranians but said the seven have already arrived in Tehran. The Americans were exchanged for seven people charged or convicted of crimes in the United States, and the dropping of USA cases against 14 others whose arrest was sought.
But not all news was good for Tehran: The U.S. on Sunday imposed new sanctions against 11 individuals and entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program as a result of Tehran’s firing of a medium-range ballistic missile in October. They were accused of exporting goods ranging from electronic components and satellite services to marine navigation and military equipment to Iran.
According to the official IRNA news agency, the seven freed Iranians are Nader Modanloo, Bahram Mekanik, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahraman, Tooraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Saboonchi.
The exchange was announced shortly before Iran was certified as having met all commitments under the nuclear deal with six world powers.
Certification by the International Atomic Energy Agency will allow Iran to immediately recoup some $100 billion in assets frozen overseas and see huge benefits from new oil, trade and financial opportunities that will come after Western sanctions against Iran are lifted. With that done, major sanctions limiting Iran’s access to global banks and commerce are now lifted.
The prisoner deal was the culmination of months of contacts, secret talks and legal manoeuvring which came close to falling apart on at least one occasion.
Two congressmen were headed to Germany to greet Rezaian and Hekmati.
“Those who wished to depart Iran have left”, according to a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter and privacy concerns for the families.
Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Michigan, said Hekmati’s father had fallen ill in the more than four years that his son has been detained. “At this point, we are hoping and praying for Amir’s long-awaited return”, the statement read. “But once again, Bob Levinson has been left behind”, they said in a statement posted on a family website. He then spoke at length about the achievement of Implementation Day, saying, “Today marks the first day of a safer world… Because it all became real”, the congressman told CNN.
“I am overcome with emotion that after four and a half years, this awful ordeal is ending and the Hekmati family will soon be reunited with Amir”, Kildee said. It continues to hold at least one American, businessman Siamak Namazi; another, former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Robert Levinson, remains missing. The family suspects Levinson is being held in Iran despite Tehran’s claims to the contrary.
The CIA paid Levinson’s family over $2 million and some staffers lost their jobs over his unauthorized work.