Several Republican presidential candidates criticized the Obama administration’sdecision to swap seven Iranian prisoners for The Washington Post’s reporter Jason Rezaian and three other Americans on Saturday.
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“We can confirm that our detained United States citizens have been released and that those who wished to depart Iran have left”, a senior USA official said.
A fifth American, released separately, is already on his way home.
As part of the deal, Obama also agreed to pardon or commute the sentences of seven Iranians held by the United States, a senior USA official said on condition of anonymity because the president had not yet signed the pardon paperwork.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the top diplomats of Iran and the European Union hailed the accord, reached after years of setbacks and a full decade after the start of worldwide diplomacy aimed at reducing the possibility that Tehran could turn its nuclear programs to weapons making.
Ryan’s statement noted that Iran also released other Americans and said “our hope is that those who remain held will soon follow”.
A source close to Iran’s judiciary confirmed to The Associated Press, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016 that jailed Washington Post bureau chief Jason Rezaian is one of four dual-national prisoners freed by Iran’s government and previously announced on Iranian state television without naming those released.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called the release “good news”, but suggested the USA decision to release Iranian prisoners in exchange amounted to the latest example of “weakness” in the Obama administration’s dealings with Iran.
“Thanks to years of hard work and committed dialogue”, he said, “we have made vital breakthroughs related to both the nuclear negotiations and a separate long-term diplomatic effort” that led to the freeing of the Americans. The final prisoner, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari has also been released but was not on the plane. The last one made a plea agreement.
Host Chris Wallace pressed Cruz on his bombastic military rhetoric, pointing out his comment during Thursday night’s sixth GOP presidential debate that “any country that makes USA service members get on their knees…will feel the full force and fury of the United States”.
The announcement came the same day the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog announced Iran is in compliance with a July nuclear deal.
Now 39, Rezaian was detained a few days after writing a story about how Iranians loved baseball. “Ali is thrilled and grateful for his release and return to his family”.
“Considering how little value the Ministry of Intelligence places on my Iranian citizenship and passport, I, too, place little value on them and inform you, effectively that I formally renounce my Iranian citizenship and passport”.
“He’s been incarcerated for nine months for a crime that he’s just accused of but did not commit”, said lawyer Joel Androphy. His fate remains unknown but a U.S. official said Saturday Iran has again promised to help determine his whereabouts.
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released a statement today regarding Saeed’s release saying, “Iran’s holding of Pastor Abedini was outrageous and it was far past time for him to be released”.
“We are happy for the other families”, Levinson’s family said in a statement.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency named the other three men as Nader Madanloo, Arash Ghahreman and Nima Golestaneh.
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This undated handout photo provided by the family of Robert Levinson, shows retired-FBI agent Robert Levinson who went missing on the Iranian island of Kish in March 2007 and Levinson’s family received these photographs of him in April 2011.
