Thread: Iran Says It Has Released Four Americans in a Prisoner Swap

Iran Says It Has Released Four Americans in a Prisoner Swap

By THOMAS ERDBRINK and RICK GLADSTONEJAN. 16, 2016

TEHRAN — Iran announced Saturday that it had released four Iranian-Americans as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States.

The announcement from the judiciary on state television did not identify the four, but Iranian news media said they included Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent; Amir Hekmati, a Marine veteran; and Saeed Abedini, a pastor. There were discrepancies in the Iranian reports about the identity of the fourth prisoner.

It was not immediately clear whom the Americans released, but Iranian reports said seven Iranians were freed.

The exchange was apparently orchestrated to coincide with the expected announcement of the lifting of nuclear sanctions against Iran, the most important phase of the nuclear deal reached with world powers in July.

The incarceration of the Iranian-Americans had become an increasingly bitter side issue.

Mr. Rezaian, 39, a California native and dual citizen of the United States and Iran, was The Post’s bureau chief in Tehran in July 2014 when he was arrested. He was charged with spying on Iran’s nuclear program and gathering information about violations of international sanctions against Iran.

He was convicted in October after a closed trial.

Executives from 25 news organizations recently sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to press Iran to release Mr. Rezaian.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/17/wo...n-rezaian.html

Wonderful news!!

Originally Posted by Judy

Wonderful news!!

I'd say that depends.