By then, American and Iranian teams in Geneva were working hard on the details of the swap.
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Hekmati was detained in 2011, weeks after arriving in Iran to visit his grandmother, according to his family’s website.
The Islamic Republic released the prisoners in exchange for pardons or charges dropped against seven Iranians – six of whom hold dual US citizenship – serving time for or accused of sanctions violations in the United States.
The Washington Post has not said when Rezaian would return back to the United States. He was the newspaper’s Tehran bureau chief.
“We engaged in a campaign that was essentially meant to make sure that nobody forgets Amir Hekmati”, he said.
When Yusra Kauppila, friend of Hekmati’s and a fellow Marine, heard of Hekmati’s arrest, she began an online campaign known as “Free Amir”. He was sentenced in 2013 to eight years in prison.
US officials said that Khosravi-Roodsari-has only been described as a “businessman”-was detained sometime in the past year, Robin Wright reports for the New Yorker”. Jason Rezaian landed in Geneva before flying to Ramstein Air Base in Germany with his mother and wife.
Hekmati’s sister Sarah Hekmati has spoken to her brother, who said he’s fine and being well taken care of at Landstuhl. He later posted a photo that appears to show Rezaian standing on a tarmac outside a plane.
In a statement, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., publisher of The Washington Post, said friends and colleagues were elated by the wonderful news that Rezaian was released from Evin Prison and safely left the country with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi. Three others were awaiting trial; the last one made a plea agreement.
“This is a good day”, President Barack Obama said from the White House.
The fourth, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, opted to remain in Iran, officials said.
“I have travelled with the Hekmati family”. “He feels like he’s been starved of information for the last 18 months; having to live off of Iranian state TV and getting your news from there isn’t where you want to be as a reporter”. He suffered injuries to his face at the time, the center reported. “When Americans are freed and returned to their families, that’s something we can all celebrate”.
Brandseth said he hopes Rezaian, a life-long fan of the Star Wars saga, will be able to see the latest film in the theaters.
What did Iran get in return?
The US set seven prisoners free as part of a negotiated swap, and Iran released five prisoners – four as part of the swap. They were accused of exporting goods ranging from electronic components and satellite services to marine navigation and military equipment to Iran. Nader Modanlo, Arash Ghahreman and Ali Saboonchi had their sentences commuted, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Iranian state television announced Saturday that the government had freed four dual-nationality prisoners, and a person close to Iran’s judiciary confirmed to The Associated Press that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian was one of them.
He did not name them.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israeli would monitor the Iranian nuclear deal closely to ensure that Iran was not violating its commitments.
The swap was made as the US and other western nations prepared to lift longstanding economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for that country scaling back its nuclear program.
Kildee said there is concern about Hekmati’s medical and mental condition, with limited contact with family until recent discussions between the United State and Iranian governments which he noted opened the lines of communication. The Iranians have always denied knowing his location.
USA federal officials said they will not comment on the names of anyone who is part of the agreement until after the four Americans are in US custody.
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Kerry said Sunday that Iran had agreed to deepen coordination in the search. After his arrest, his family says they were told to keep matter quiet. “But once again, Bob Levinson has been left behind”.
