Former US Marine released from Iran lands in Michigan

FLINT, Mich. (AP) – A former U.S. Marine recently released from Iran in a prisoner-swap deal returned to his home state of MI on Thursday, saying shortly after his airplane landed that he had endured “a very long road”. In this photo provided by The Washington Post, from left, Jason Rezaian, his wife Yeganeh Salehi, his mother Mary Rezaian, and brother Ali Rezaian pose for a photo at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center near the…

After spending more that 1,600 days in an Iranian jail, Hekmati was reunited in MI with his family, who had spent years campaigning for his release. “I’m glad to be here”.

“Many people have traveled this road with me”, said Hekmati, 32, on the tarmac.

He was one of five Americans released to coincide with the lifting last weekend of economic sanctions against Iran in return for curbs on Tehran’s atomic program.

“Despite all the difficulties, thank god, thank for everyones support”, he said.

Asked about his 4 1/2 -years in Iranian prison, Hekmati said “it wasn’t good”, but that his Marine training helped sustain him.

“The ordeal doesn’t end just because they’re home”, Salmon said in an interview Wednesday. “Sometimes it felt like it might not”. He was initially arrested during his first trip to Iran to visit his grandmother.

Hekmati was born in Arizona and raised in MI.

Hekmati was detained in August 2011 on espionage charges.

A US congressman from MI said he worked in public and behind the scenes, once meeting privately with Iran’s foreign minister, to win the release of an Iranian-American prisoner from his congressional district sentenced to death for spying. He’s emerged to waiting reporters and well-wishers, including members of the American Legion.

“He arrived safely in Asheville”, said Todd Shearer, a spokesman for the Graham family.

In a statement, Salmon said he “welcomed this excellent, if tragically delinquent, news of our Americans’ release” but was disappointed in the negotiations that led to their freedom. “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you have done to keep my name apart of the conversation and for the kindness and support that you have given my family during the darkest period of our lives”.