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


Afp January 17, 2016
File photo of Jason Rezaian, Washington Post's Tehran correspondent, who is thought to be included in the list of dual nationals released. PHOTO: AFP

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.

Iran says four 'dual-nationals' freed in prisoner exchange

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.

Iran says international sanctions to be lifted 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.

COMMENTS (1)

J Russ | 8 years ago | Reply Let's see, was the Iran nuclear deal and prisoner release the result of Democrat careful grown up smart negotiation or Republican carpet bombing Iran and the middle east into the stone age?
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