Iran releases American Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in prisoner swap with the US as nuclear deal is implemented
Iran has released Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, held for over a year, along with three other prisoners, on the day the country’s landmark nuclear deal is set to be implemented.
39-year-old Rezaian was among the four dual-national prisoners announced to have been released by Tehran’s prosecutor, in what is expected to be the first step of a prisoner swap with the US.
The prosecutor said the prisoners’ release was made “in the nation’s interest”.
The move comes on the same day as the Iran nuclear agreement is set to be implemented. Iran has agreed to slash its nuclear programme, in exchange for lifted sanctions, and senior diplomats are getting ready to lift the sanctions on the country later today.
US secretary of state John Kerry has just arrived in Vienna to iron out the last details in the landmark deal with his Iranian colleague Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU leaders.
Rezaian, who holds Iranian and American citizenship, was arrested in his Tehran home in July 2014, and held on unspecified charges for over seven months.