The release of the prisoners was the result of “tireless” work by American diplomats, on the sidelines of nuclear negotiations with Iran, President Obama said Sunday.
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Iran released five Americans on Saturday as part of a prisoner swap with the United States, to reduce decades-old hostility as global sanctions were lifted on the Islamic Republic.
Iran emerged from years of economic isolation on Saturday when world powers lifted crippling sanctions after confirming that Tehran had curbed its nuclear programme as part of a deal agreed last year.
Kerry said the release of the prisoners followed months of meetings with Zarif and between other senior US officials and Iranian officials on the sidelines of nuclear talks, which began in earnest in 2013.
However, one of the prisoners released in the swap, Nosratollah Khosravi, decided not to leave Iran, White House officials told CNN.
Kerry said the whereabouts of Robert Levinson, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and DEA agent, who disappeared in Iran since 2007, was also part of the prisoner agreement with the Iranians.
The Obama Administration reportedly made a decision to withhold sanctions against Iran over ballistic missile testing on fears that it would damage their ability to negotiate a prisoner exchange.
On Sunday, the five Americans flew out of Tehran and were expected to travel to Switzerland and then to a military base of the U.S.in Germany where they will be examined.
Hekmati’s family said “it is hard to put into words what our family feels right now”.
Trevithick’s parents said he was freed after 40 days at a prison in Tehran.
In return, the U.S.is pardoning or commuting the sentences of an Iranian and six dual citizens.
The officials said they would ensure the Americans were in good health and reunited with their families, but declined to discuss further logistics of the transfer because of privacy concerns. “When Americans are freed and returned to their families, that’s something we can all celebrate”.
His family released a statement thanking supporters for standing with the family since his arrest. They say his arrest and incarceration were “devastating” to his friends and family and that he’s grateful for his release.
A fifth prisoner, American student Matthew Trevithick was released separately from the group of four, according to a U.S. official. “We are going to remain vigilant about it”. He also tweeted, “We extended a hand of friendship & despite the challenges, conspiracies & doubts managed to open a new chapter in our relations w/ the world”. But he said their release awaits the Americans’ departure from Iran.
Rezaian was detained by Iran in 2014 and eventually charged with espionage and other crimes, according to the Washington Post.
Post publisher Frederick Ryan hailed the release of Rezaian, and said he was also “pleased to see that Iran released four other Americans”. Iranian officials said the 14 were being sought for alleged involvement in the purchase of arms from the U.S.to Iran. “There are still many unknowns”.
Speaking before the parliament in comments broadcast on live television, Rouhani said the landmark nuclear deal has satisfied all parties except radical extremists.
Iranian media lists those freed as: Nader Modanlou, Bahram Mechanic, Khosrow Afqahi, Arash Ghahreman, Touraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh and Ali Sabounchi.
“It has become very clear to me that those responsible view Iranian-Americans not as citizens or even human beings, but as bargaining chips and tools for propaganda”, he wrote in the letter sent to the State Department’s Iranian interest section in Washington.
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Iran has denied holding him. The statement called for “an appropriate response to each violation” of the deal Iran might make in the future, and said Israel will take any action necessary to defend itself.
