Former US Marine, released from Iran, back home in Michigan

Former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati is back home with his family in Genesee County after landing Thursday at Flint’s Biship Airport.

“I am learning more about the grassroots support I received from ordinary people from across the world over the past four-and-a-half years”, he said.

Amir Hekmati spoke to the news media Tuesday outside a medical facility in Germany, where he said he considered himself “extremely lucky” and his entire release “surreal”. 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. The country’s Revolutionary Court then overturned his conviction for espionage, instead charging him with “cooperating with hostile governments” and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Hekmati says he went to Iran to visit family and spend time with his ailing grandmother.

Abedini, a naturalized USA citizen of Iranian origin, arrived at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove, a Christian conference center in Asheville, North Carolina, that is linked to popular evangelist Billy Graham.

Jason Rezaian and his family have started the final leg of their journey to the United States days after the Washington Post reporter was released from an Iranian prison.

Salmon said the physical and emotional toll of his incarceration means that Hekmati has a long road of recovery ahead.

The former Marine, held hostage in an Iranian prison for all those years, was finally home. After his arrest, family members said they were told to keep the matter quiet.

Kildee said he insisted in meetings that Hekmati was innocent of spying charges, and Iranian officials never presented evidence that rebutted his claim.

While the global community tries to figure out how to handle Tehran and determine what steps to take after a historic nuclear deal, two prisoners who were held hostage in Iran are back home.

Hekmati suffered from health problems, including weight loss and breathing difficulties, according to his family.

Kildee’s role was praised by many including Hekmati and U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi who tweeted Kildee to thank him “for unrelenting efforts” to help win Hekmati’s release. He did not name them.