For Iran, the move lifts Western economic sanctions that have been in place for years, unlocking access to $100 billion in frozen assets and unleashing new opportunities for its battered economy.
Advertisement
In addition to releasing the seven Iranians – all of whom reportedly were in custody for sanctions violations – the Obama administration rescinded global arrest warrants on 14 other Iranians suspected of sanctions violations.
Rubio has previously expressed support for Rezaian by wearing a “Free Jason” pin, but like other Republican critics of the Obama administration, Rubio maintains that the jailed Americans should have been freed without conditions.
“Planning to swap prisoners on the nuclear accord’s implementation day had a simple message to skeptics in Tehran and Washington: Goodwill begets goodwill”, says Ali Vaez, the senior Iran analyst for the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.
U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire January 16, 2016.
Rezaian, who was born in California and accredited to work in Tehran, was detained in 2014 and charged with espionage-accusations Rezaian, The Washington Post, and the USA government have denied.
Not even waiting for the IAEA report, Iranian Transport Minister Abbas Akhondi said his country had reached a deal with the European consortium Airbus to buy 114 passenger planes once the sanctions are lifted.
The freeing of the Americans and the certification marked the beginning of a new era in U.S.-Iranian relations.
Also released were Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine held since 2011; Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor held since 2012; and Nasratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, identified by Iranian state TV as a businessman.
In return, the USA will either pardon or drop charges against seven Iranians – six of whom are dual citizens – accused or convicted of violating US sanctions. The Iranians originally sought 19 individuals as part of the exchange; USA officials whittled down the number to seven. “As Secretary Kerry has noted many times, we are working very hard to get our citizens back home, and we call again on Iran to release them”. Rezaian was the Post’s Tehran correspondent and was accredited to work in the country by the Iranian government. He had been held more than 543 days.
It says the Iranian people hope that the “bitterness of filling the Arak reactor with cement will be accompanied with the sweetness of filling their table”, referring to the lifting of crippling global sanctions. “This Iran deal is an insane disaster and this White House has lost its mind”. “Simultaneously, we must continue to pray for the advancement of the Gospel across Iran, the Middle East and all across the world”.
Naghmeh said that Saeed’s parents have visited him several times in prison and were continuously concerned about his health issues. Under the deal, Iran committed to reduce its operating centrifuges enriching uranium by two-thirds, to just over 5,000 machines. But social media networking sites were abuzz. He was initially sentenced to death after he was convicted of espionage, but the punishment was later reduced to 10 years in prison. “Thank you Rouhani”, one said.
“I think this created an incentive for more governments to do this around the world”.
Washington Post spokeswoman Kris Coratti told the AP that she could not confirm any change in Rezaian’s case.
The negotiations over the American detainees grew out of the Iran nuclear talks.
Faridi, 46, is vice president of a Smart Power Systems and along with Afghahi assisted Mechanic in the illegal transfer of USA technology to Iran, according to court documents. Deadlines were repeatedly extended by months.
While talk of a swap first emerged last summer, by early fall new allegations were published against Mr. Rezaian, whose case has garnered the most headlines and been pursued relentlessly by his family.
Advertisement
The student from Hingham, Mass., went to Iran in September for a four-month language program at an institute associated with Tehran University, his family said in a statement to the Associated Press. “The world is safer because of this Iran nuclear agreement”. “Under no rational analysis is that a fair deal”, Santorum said in a statement.
