US Official: Plane Carrying Freed Americans Arrives In Germany
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Three of the four Americans released by Iran arrived in Germany on Sunday, according to a U.S. State Department official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss their status.
No other details were immediately available about how long they would remain in Germany and when they might return to the U.S.
Earlier on Sunday, the three Americans landed in Geneva aboard a Swiss air force plane. A fourth prisoner, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, decided not to leave Iran, senior White House officials said, CNN reported.
U.S. officials had said Saturday that the released prisoners would be taken to a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, for medical treatment. The hospital is near the U.S. military's Ramstein Air Base.
The publisher of The Washington Post is confirmed that reporter Jason Rezaian has "safely left the country" with his wife after a "545-day nightmare."
Rezaian's brother said his release by Iran has brought "indescribable relief and joy to our family."
Ali Rezaian said in a statement Sunday his family is thankful to The Washington Post, the U.S. government, and "thousands of journalists and other people who brought awareness to Jason's plight." He says their support gave Jason's family the strength to keep fighting for his release.
Jason Rezaian, who was born in San Francisco, is one of three Americans flying home Sunday. He had been detained since July 2014 when Iranian security forces raided his home and seized his wife and him.
He was convicted in closed proceedings last year after being charged with espionage and related allegations. The Post and the U.S. government have denied the accusations, as has Rezaian.
The family of former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati released a statement on Twitter that read, in part: "Today, our brother, son and friend Amir Hekmati has been released from Iran. We have now been officially told that he is on a plance leaving the country.
"It is hard to put into words what our family feels right now," the statement continued. "But we remain in hopeful anticipating until Amir is in our arms."
The family added that Hekmati's father is very ill and "soon he will embrace his son once more."
Naghmeh Abedini, the wife of prisoner Saeed Abedini, recalled telling her children Saturday their father was coming home.
"They were jumping, dancing," she said.
President Barack Obama said Sunday "tireless" diplomacy made the prisoners' release possible.
Under the deal, the U.S. was pardoning or dropping charges against seven Iranians citizens accused or convicted of violating U.S. sanctions.
Obama said the released Iranians weren't charged with terrorism. He said their release is "one-time gesture" to Iran.
Attorneys for one of the Iranians freed Saturday in the prisoner swap said their client "poses no danger to the American people."
Saboonchi had been convicted of unlawfully exporting goods to Iran in violation of international sanctions and was serving a two-year sentence.
Obama said the U.S. will continue to search for Robert Levinson, a U.S. citizen long missing in Iran.
American student Matt Trevithick was also released as part of a separate agreement.
The prisoner swap was announced hours before the United Nations' nuclear watchdog certified that Iran has met commitments that are part of the nuclear deal with six world powers.
In return, Obama signed an executive order lifting U.S. sanctions.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani touted the nuclear deal during an address to his country's parliament.
"All the parties are happy with the exception of the Zionists and the warmongers," he said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin continues to slam the deal.
In a statement this weekend, he said Iran has not ended its nuclear ambitions and he promised to watch developments very closely.
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