Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosravi four Iranian-Americans in custody in Iran were released in the lead up to Iranian and 5+1 representatives announcing the implementation of the nuclear deal.
Iran’s judiciary news agency announced that according to the Tehran prosecutor the release of these prisoners were based on “orders from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council “and the” general interests of the state”.
Mizan News Agency also reported that seven Iranians imprisoned in the US have also been released.
Tehran prosecutor referred to the release of the prisoners in the two countries as an “exchange of prisoners”.
Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine who was arrested in Iran on spying charges, was among those released, as are Saeed Abedini, a Christian convert priest, and Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter. The U.S. had called for their release on several occasions.
