Swiss plane carrying four freed Americans leaves Tehran

“Overwhelmed to greet Jason #Rezaian, his wife, Yegi, mother, Mary + Saeed #Abedini + Amir #Hekmati to #Geneva after safely departing #Iran”, McGurk wrote on Twitter. He later posted a photo that appears to show Rezaian standing on a tarmac outside a plane.

The situation of the fifth prisoner, identified by USA officials as Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, was not immediately known.

President Barack Obama signed executive orders lifting economic sanctions on Iran and Mogherini said the European Union had lifted its nuclear-related sanctions as well. “We don’t make that judgment”. There were no additional details.

But he also sounded a note of caution, adding that the U.S. would continue to have problems with the Iranian government’s “destabilizing activities” in the region, including its support for militant groups. And I think that this image of Iran, this trend is going in the right direction to bring about a new assessment from the American side on who they’re dealing with in the Iranian leadership.

He described the negotiations as hard, especially as the Iranians made what he said were unacceptable demands. And I know his kids, especially, they just miss their dad like insane.

Rezaian’s brother Ali also said he had no immediate confirmation of the news.

Kerry said the prisoner swap and nearly simultaneous implementation of the nuclear deal raise the prospects of increased U.S.-Iranian cooperation on other matters.

Rezaian was convicted behind closed doors on espionage charges a year ago, while Hekmati was held over similar allegations in August 2011 as he visited his ailing grandmother.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said that while he is happy for the freed Americans and their families, the USA “shouldn’t be involved in swaps”.

Since his arrest in July 2014, Rezaian had become the highest-profile dual Iranian-American citizen held in Tehran’s Evin Prison, particularly as the nuclear talks were unfolding. These are cases across the US, mostly involving sanctions violations. They were accused in 2015 of shipping electronics to Iran.

They were named as Nader Modanlou, Bahram Mechanic, Khosrow Afqahi, Arash Ghahreman, Touraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Sabounchi.

Many newspapers have hailed “good days ahead” for the economy, but the hardline press has lamented nuclear restrictions, with Vatan-e Emruz declaring closing the Arak reactor amounted to a “nuclear burial”.

US administration officials confirmed the news Saturday following reports first published in Iranian media.

“I am overcome with emotion that after four and a half years, this bad ordeal is ending and the Hekmati family will soon be reunited with Amir”, Kildee said.

“He is specifically mentioned by name in the agreement and there is an agreement to specifically cooperate to find him”, said Kerry.

In return, the USA has offered clemency to seven Iranians, six of whom are dual citizens, who were convicted in the US or awaiting trial, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Two congressmen are headed to Germany on Sunday to greet Rezaian and Hekmati.

Iran and the USA have reached an agreement on a prisoner swap after 14 months of negotiations – with Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian among those being released.

Four of the five detainees were still in the country because “logistical steps” were still ongoing, an official said. There is hope “that having Amir back gives him some strength”.

He went missing one evening when he was supposed to join a family gathering, Sarah Hekmati said.

Naghmeh wants to say thank you to all of the supporters who always stood by them. Iranian officials deny knowing where he is.

Fourteen other Iranians wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation would no longer be sought for prosecution by Interpol, a U.S. official said. “But once again, Bob Levinson has been left behind”.

Diplomatic triumph or travesty, America’s relationship with one of its most intractable foes took two giant leaps forward this weekend when Iran released four Americans in a prisoner swap after locking in last summer’s nuclear deal and receiving some $100 billion in sanctions relief.