Washington Post editors flew to Germany to meet with Rezaian, 39, who appeared in a photograph on the newspaper’s website wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans and said he was feeling fine.
Advertisement
An image from video shows Amir Hekmati flanked by Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich.
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian said Wednesday he want to “catch up” with the world following his release from almost 18 months in Iranian custody, including watching some Warriors games and seeing the new Star Wars movie.
“Right now, I feel great”, Hekmati said”.
Along with Mr Hekmati, they are undergoing medical evaluations at the United States military’s Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
Kildee said the three men would return to the US “as soon as possible”. Switzerland represents USA interests in Iran in the absence of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.
Hekmati was arrested in August 2011 while he was on a visit to his grandmother in Iran. I feel very lucky…
Matthew Trevithick, detained in Iran last month on charges that were never disclosed, was freed in a deal separate from the four other Americans.
“We talked about a few of the aspects of his incarceration, (he) described the prison conditions as being bleak as we know them to be by reputation, described the fact that he had been told he was going to be released on several occasions, so even when this moment came he wasn’t sure it was really true until he was at the airport”, he said.
The Americans’ flight from Iran was delayed because of confusion over the whereabouts of Rezaian’s wife and mother, whom US officials had insisted be part of the release deal.
Regaining his freedom was “like being born again”, said Hekmati, who was held for 4 ½ years in Iran.
Hekmati, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and pastor Saeed Abedini arrived late Sunday at Landstuhl for treatment.
The Iranian government labeled him a spy and released a videotaped confession to support its claim.
Kildee launched a Free Amir campaign, engaging in private negotiations with the Swiss and Iranian governments – Switzerland represents USA interests with Iran – and working with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Khamenei, however, noted “pessimism” linked to comments by US politicians as worldwide sanctions were lifted – a provision to the nuclear deal after Iran complied with measures to reduce its nuclear capacities and stockpiles.
Asked Tuesday how he felt, Hekmati said: “I am well and I’m only going to get better, I hope”.
News of his eventual release was sudden and unexpected, Hekmati told reporters.
Advertisement
The Post also said he was subjected to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse before finally being convicted of espionage in what it called a sham trial. The white house now says it has reason to believe he is no longer in Iran, but they provided no other details about his whereabouts.
