The four Americans were released in an apparent prisoner-swap purportedly for as many as a dozen Iranians being detained in the United States.
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“In line with the order of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the interests of the country, Iran has released four Iranian dual-national prisoners as a part of prisoners swap”, the announcement said.
The release is part of a prisoner swap deal in which the United States reportedly freed six Iranian-Americans held on charges related to sanctions against Iran, FARS said.
It was reported on Saturday that the implementation of new sanctions over Iran’s ballistic missile tests had been delayed to avoid risking the prisoners’ release.
The Post’s publisher, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., said in a statement, “We are relieved that this 545-day nightmare for Jason and his family is finally over”. All were freed except for Rezaian, an Iranian-American who was convicted in a closed-door trial for espionage and other offenses including “collaborating with hostile governments”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Kerry, who developed a close rapport during months of unprecedented talks hammering out last year’s nuclear deal, played crucial roles in clinching the prisoner deal, U.S. officials said. A fifth American was released separately.
Announced Saturday, the delicate swap deal yielded the release of four Americans held by Tehran for years, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had insisted during the nuclear talks that the Obama administration wanted to keep separate the issue of the Americans being held in Iran, while calling on Tehran to release them and drop all charges.
According to the Washington Post, Rezaian’s ordeal “damaged his health” and drew protests from the media and human rights groups.
The agreement came just days after 10 Navy sailors were captured, and quickly released, by Tehran after they broached Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf.
The nuclear deal signed on July 14 between Iran and world powers was trumpeted by the White House as a signature foreign policy achievement by President Barack Obama.
Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007 while working for the CIA on an unapproved intelligence mission, wasn’t part of the deal.
They had all been indicted or imprisoned for sanctions violations, and six of the seven are dual citizens. The Iranians have always denied knowing his location.
The U.N. nuclear agency certified Saturday that Iran has met all of its commitments under last summer’s landmark nuclear deal, crowning years of U.S.-led efforts to crimp Iran’s ability to make atomic weapons. For…
However, the attorney for Bahram Mechanich, one of the seven, told CNN his client was pardoned along with two others – Tooraj Faridi and Khosro Afghahi.
Rezaian, who has covered Iran for the Post since 2012, grew up in Marin County, California, and spent most of his life in the United States. Mechanich, who was “elated” by the pardon, plans eventually return to Iran, where he has a business, Androphy said. She said she will work that out once she is able to talk with him.
A source familiar with the case of a fourth man identified him as Ali Saboonchi.
It’s unclear if they will leave the USA for Iran. It ranged from exporting electronic components, satellite services, marine navigation and military equipment to Iran.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting Jaafari, said the agreement also includes a provision under which the United States will no longer pursue the extradition of 14 Iranians alleged to have been involved in trafficking arms to Iran. He faced up to 25 years in prison for both counts, but the length of his sentence wasn’t immediately clear.
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Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s prosecutor general announced that the country had released four Iranian prisoners with dual nationals.
