‘Like Being Born Again’: American Describes Being Freed From Iranian Prison

Iran denies holding Levinson.

Khosravi-Roodsari, the fourth American, opted to remain in Iran after his release. They are now being evaluated at Landstuhl, the largest USA military hospital overseas. Trevithick was released after about 40 days in custody independently of a prisoner exchange between the US and Iran that saw American prisoners discharged. The group then enjoyed chocolates and a meal of veal served by the Swiss, he said. “We went through a period of time while they were located and ultimately reunited with Jason, and now all is well that ends well”.

He said Hekmati doesn’t have any immediate plans that he knows of but has shown the congressman in just a few meetings “an optimism about the future which is extraordinary for someone who has gone through what he has”.

Dehghan said Iran would expand its program by “unveiling new missile achievements soon”.

While noting the “grace and dignity” Hekmati, 32, carries himself with even after the ordeal, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, added that “anyone who meets him would recognize this is a person coming out of something that’s really hard”. Kildee, along with Reps.

“The Iranian officials, who were our captors essentially, were amazed and had asked us, ‘Why is it that they’re working so hard for you?’, and I just said, ‘Well, that’s America and they love their citizens'”. “It will take a little bit of help, and that starts here”.

“I want to thank my family, especially the efforts of my brother Ali and my wife in Iran and my mother everywhere she was”.

“I feel alive for the first time”.

Hekmati said there was no warning that he would be released.

Hekmati, a former US marine from MI, has been undergoing medical and psychological evaluations in preparation to return home to the United States.

“Right now, Mr. Afghahi is spending some precious time with his family in the United States…and probably getting the first good night sleep and hot cup of coffee he’s had in nine months”, Gerger said in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday.

Kildee hailed the agreement that led to the prisoner release as “a victory for diplomacy”.

“We need to be prudent as we look forward and how we can better protect Americans without committing ourselves in ways that will cause greater threat to their security”, said Pittenger.

Bryon Wilfert, a former MP and foreign affairs critic when Dion was opposition leader, said he is optimistic about thawing relations with Iran.

Hekmati described the pressures of his more than four years as a prisoner as “inhumane and unjust”.

Posing for the cameras with his wife and family outside the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, he said that he was “feeling fine”.

Though long an advocate for Hekmati’s release, Kildee had never met Hekmati until Monday.

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. Hekmati’s two sisters are also staying at the base with him.