Americans Freed by Iran in Prisoner Swap Arrive in Germany

Three Americans freed by Iran in a prisoner swap have arrived in Germany at Ramstein Air Base, White House officials tell CNN and the Free Amir Hekmati Twitter account confirmed in a Tweet. Earlier, a plane carrying the three American citizens landed in Geneva after leaving Iran.

Government officials did not specifically state which three Americans were onboard a plane headed to Geneva before they would leave for Germany, CNN reports. However, one of the prisoners released in the swap, Nosratollah Khosravi, decided not to leave Iran, White House officials told CNN.

A fifth prisoner identified as a student from Hingham, Mass. was also released independent of the prisoner swap and had already left Iran.

Washington Post reported Jason Rezaian, former marine Amir Hekmati and Christian pastor Saeed Abedini are believed to be the three Americans who have arrived in Germany.

Frederick J. Ryan, publisher of the Washington Post issued a statement confirming that reporter Rezaian had left Iran. The statement said friends and colleagues at the paper were elated by the wonderful news that Rezaian has safely left the country with his wife Yeganeh Salehi.

Below is the full statement issued by the Post:

“Friends and colleagues at The Washington Post are elated by the wonderful news that Jason Rezaian has been released from Evin Prison and has safely left the country with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi.

We are relieved that this 545-day nightmare for Jason and his family is finally over. We are pleased to see that Iran released four other Americans, and our hope is that those who remain held will soon follow.

We are enormously grateful to all who played a role in securing his release. Our deep appreciation also goes to the many government leaders, journalists, human rights advocates and others around the world who have spoken out on Jason’s behalf and against the harsh confinement that was so wrongly imposed upon him.

After enduring such deplorable conditions and inhumane treatment, the top priority now must be Jason’s health and well-being.

Now a free man, Jason will be reunited with his family, including his brother Ali, his most effective and tireless advocate. We look forward to the joyous occasion of welcoming him back to the Washington Post newsroom.”

Rezaian’s brother Ali Rezaian also issued a statement saying he was incredible relieved his brother was on his way home. He added that the release brought indescribable relief and joy to his family.

U.S. State Department official and Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk posted a picture of Rezaian arriving in Geneva.

The official Free Amir Hekmati Twitter account posted the following update when the plane landed in Geneva.

The account later confirmed that Hekmati had landed in Germany.

Naghmeh Abedini, wife of pastor Saeed Abedini also posted an update saying Abedini had landed in Geneva and was getting ready to leave for Germany.

All three of the prisoners headed to Iran had been jailed in the country for various charges.

Rezaian, 39, was detained by Iran in 2014 on charges of espionage and other crimes, according to the Washington Post. He was tried in Iran Revolutionary Court after being charged with unspecified offenses in December 2014 and sentenced to prison for an unknown time.

Hekmati, a former marine was detained in 2011 and accused of espionage. According to CNN, he was sentenced to death but that punishment was overturned and he was later sentenced to ten years in prison. Saeed Abedini, an Iran native who converted to Christianity, was sentenced in 2012 to eight years in prison on charges of attempting to undermine the Iranian government. The details of Khosravi’s case had not been publicized earlier, according to reports.

As part of the prisoner swap, the United States released seven Iranian men, six of whom are dual Iranian-American citizens, being held on sanctions violations. President Obama called the move a “one-time gesture” and said none of the individuals had been charged with terrorism.

The announcement of the prisoner swap came on the same day the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog announced that Iran had scaled back its nuclear activities in compliance with the nuclear deal reached with six world powers to start the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Following the certification from the IAEA, President Barack Obama signed executive orders lifting economic sanctions on Iran as part of the international agreement.

On Sunday, the United States Treasury Department sanctioned 11 entities said to be involved in procuring goods for Iran’s ballistic-missile program. The Wall Street Journal reports the Obama administration had notified Congress on Dec. 30 that it would be sanctioning a range of companies after Iran conducted its latest ballistic-missile test in October. The U.S. pulled back on the move due to pressure from the Iranian government.

White House Officials told the Wall Street Journal they determined the penalties could go into place once the four U.S. prisoners involved in the exchange were released.

“Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions,” Adam J. Szubin, acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said in a statement. “We have consistently made clear that the United States will vigorously press sanctions against Iranian activities outside of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – including those related to Iran’s support for terrorism, regional destabilization, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile program.”