Ex-Marine in Iran prison rejects potential prisoner swap

DETROIT - A former U.S. Marine imprisoned in Iran says in a letter to Iran's president that he rejects any prisoner swap proposals.

Amir Hekmati's family in Michigan on Wednesday released a copy of the letter he dictated to relatives via prison phone. Hekmati's Iranian lawyer sent the letter this week to President Hassan Rouhani. It's not clear if it was received.

Hekmati was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to death for spying. Authorities overturned that sentence and imprisoned him for 10 years.

Hekmati's letter asserts he wouldn't agree to a swap because he "committed no crime" and isn't connected to other prisoners. U.S. officials say no swap has been discussed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif says the Iranian judiciary found Hekmati guilty but is trying to help "on humanitarian grounds."