First Video of Washington Post Reporter Released From Iran

Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati says he feels humbled and lucky to be free again, after being one of four Americans released by Iran as part of a prisoner swap.

Kerry also confirmed a report by The Washington Post that the flight out of Iran of Rezaian and two of the other Americans was delayed because of a mix-up over the fate of Rezaian’s wife Yeganeh.

Even when Rezaian was brought to hospitals, twice for eye infections and once for a groin infection as his health suffered in prison, they were facilities run by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Rezaian, locked up for 18 months in Evin Prison, was one of five Americans released by Iran in a prisoner swap that followed a landmark nuclear agreement. He was originally sentenced to death for espionage, but the conviction was overturned.

The fourth freed Iranian-American, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, apparently chose to remain in Iran.

Hekmati who spent more than 4 years in a prison in Iran, said the news of his release came as a surprise.

The conversations to release the prisoners began in the talks about the landmark nuclear deal signed with Iran, but McGurk said those negotiators realized they were working with the wrong power brokers.

“I did not relax until we were out of Iranian airspace”, Hekmati said.

Among the 14 accused was Seyed Abolfazl Shahab Jamili, an Iranian businessman who was charged in absentia in 2013 with violating US export laws by conspiring to buy specialized sensors called “pressure transducers” that can be used in gas centrifuges to enrich uranium.

Trevithick went to Iran in September 2015 for a four-month language program at an institute associated with Tehran University, his family said in a statement provided to The Associated Press. USA officials have said they are not sure if he is still alive.

“Champagne bottles were popped”, Hekmati said.

The Swiss government plane carrying Hekmati and two others out of the country sat on the tarmac for several hours as government officials worked to clear up a last-minute issue.

Asked how he coped with his time in captivity, Hekmati said, “I didn’t want to let any of my fellow Marines down, and the reputation of the Marine Corps”. The fifth prisoner, a USA student held since December, left Iran on Saturday on his own.

“I want people to know that physically, I’m feeling good”, Rezaian said during meetings Monday with the Post’s executive editor, Martin Baron, and foreign editor, Douglas Jehl.

Many people doubted that Iran would ever comply, and the Obama administration’s decision to impose some new sanctions this week after Iran tested long-range missiles in violation of a United Nations ban is a reminder that dealing with Tehran remains a challenge. He suffered injuries to his face at the time, the center reported.

The seven Iranians – six of them Iranian-Americans – freed in exchange were all involved in acquiring or providing forbidden technology to the Iranian government.