Four freed Iranian-Americans heading to Switzerland: state tv

It is a part of prisoner exchange in line with Iran's national interests at order of country’s top security committee

TEHRAN: Four Iranian-American citizens freed by Iran in a prisoner swap with the United States have left Tehran and are flying to Bern in Switzerland, Iranian state television reported on Sunday.

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran correspondent, Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor, former US Marine Amir Hekmati, and Nosratollah Khosravi, departed "on a special Swiss plane", the report said.

Iran said on January 16 that four Iranian dual nationals had been freed as part of a prisoner exchange in line with national interests at the order of the country’s top security committee.



The announcement came as Iran and world powers led by the United States were expected to finally implement last July’s nuclear deal, which will lift international sanctions imposed on the Islamic republic.

In exchange, seven Iranian prisoners held in the United States will be freed, official media said on Saturday.



The seven Iranians to be freed by the US are Nader Modanlou, Baharam Mekanik, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahraman, Touraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh, and Ali Sabounchi, according Iran’s judiciary and the state broadcaster.