Former US Marine released from Iran lands in US

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.

Asked about the time in prison, Hekmati said, “it wasn’t good”, but that his Marine training helped sustain him.

Two months later, the Iranian Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and Hekmati was awaiting a second trial while his family worked to get him released. I love its people. “They have been so good to me and my family and we are very grateful”, Hekmati said.

Hekmati was arrested in August 2011 while in Iran to visit his ailing grandmother, and was accused of being a spy for the Central Intelligence Agency.

“But despite all the difficulties thank God and thanks to everyone’s support”.

Amir’s sisters, Sarah and Leila Hekmati, and Sarah’s husband, Dr. Ramy Kurdi, traveled to Germany to meet Amir, who was taken there from Iran by a Swiss aircraft, along with others who had been incarcerated, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, on Sunday.

Hekmati 32, touched down in a private jet at the airport in his hometown of Flint, Michigan and stepped on to a small red carpet on the tarmac.

Hekmati, 32, was being held for about 4 and a half years. “All I said was… welcome home”.

“I was at a point where I had just sort of accepted the fact that I would be spending 10 years in prison, and so this is, it was a surprise”, he said.

“I was very moved by her comments and all of her hard work to get her brother back”, he said.

Kildee first learned about Hekmati’s detention during his first run for Congress in 2012. Their release coincided with the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. “It’s his free determination” whether he wants to stay in Iran, one official said.

In exchange for the American prisoners’ freedom, Washington pardoned or commuted the sentences of an Iranian and six people of dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship in what President Barack Obama called a “one-time gesture”.

On Jan. 16, 2016 news was released that Hekmati, along with three other Americans, were being released from Iran as part of a deal to release seven Iranians in US custody.