This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/world-leaders-gather-in-anticipation-of-ending-iran-sanctions/2016/01/16/6c48f746-bc4b-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Post reporter Jason Rezaian and others to be freed in prisoner swap, according to Iranian media | Post reporter Jason Rezaian and others to be freed in prisoner swap, according to Iranian media |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| VIENNA — Iran has released four imprisoned U.S. citizens, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, as part of a swap, the office of Tehran’s prosecutor announced Saturday, according to Iranian news media. | VIENNA — Iran has released four imprisoned U.S. citizens, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, as part of a swap, the office of Tehran’s prosecutor announced Saturday, according to Iranian news media. |
| The other released prisoners include Amir Hekmat, a former U.S. Marine, and Saeed Abedni, a pastor, and a fourth unnamed American. All four are dual U.S.-Iranian citizens. Rezaian has been held since 2014. | |
| According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the four were ordered released in exchange for six Iranian-Americans held in the United States on sanctions-related charges. | According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the four were ordered released in exchange for six Iranian-Americans held in the United States on sanctions-related charges. |
| A statement by the prosecutor said that “based on an approval of the Supreme National Security Council and the general interests of the Islamic Republic, four Iranian prisoners with dual-nationality were freed today within the framework of a prisoner swap deal,” Fars reported. | A statement by the prosecutor said that “based on an approval of the Supreme National Security Council and the general interests of the Islamic Republic, four Iranian prisoners with dual-nationality were freed today within the framework of a prisoner swap deal,” Fars reported. |
| There was no official confirmation from the United States. Kris Coratti, vice president of communications and spokeswoman for The Post, said that “while we are hopeful, we have not received any official word of Jason’s release.” | There was no official confirmation from the United States. Kris Coratti, vice president of communications and spokeswoman for The Post, said that “while we are hopeful, we have not received any official word of Jason’s release.” |
| News of the exchange came as world leaders converged here Saturday in anticipation of the end of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for significantly curtailing its nuclear program. | News of the exchange came as world leaders converged here Saturday in anticipation of the end of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for significantly curtailing its nuclear program. |
| The nuclear agreement will take effect when the International Atomic Energy Agency certifies that Iran has met its commitments under the deal it signed last July with six global powers, including the United States. | The nuclear agreement will take effect when the International Atomic Energy Agency certifies that Iran has met its commitments under the deal it signed last July with six global powers, including the United States. |
| Secretary of State John F. Kerry flew from London to Vienna in the early afternoon local time. He went immediately into a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the Coburg Palace Hotel, the scene of months-long final negotiations last summer that led to the deal between Iran and the world powers. | Secretary of State John F. Kerry flew from London to Vienna in the early afternoon local time. He went immediately into a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the Coburg Palace Hotel, the scene of months-long final negotiations last summer that led to the deal between Iran and the world powers. |
| [How the nuclear deal with Iran works] | [How the nuclear deal with Iran works] |
| Iranian, European and U.S. officials have said repeatedly over the past week that IAEA certification and implementation of the agreement was just “days” away. But the delay in what initially was to be an announcement Saturday morning, Vienna time, suggested that some last-minute issues still needed to be ironed out. | Iranian, European and U.S. officials have said repeatedly over the past week that IAEA certification and implementation of the agreement was just “days” away. But the delay in what initially was to be an announcement Saturday morning, Vienna time, suggested that some last-minute issues still needed to be ironed out. |
| Zarif was brimming with optimism when he arrived earlier in the day and met with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. | Zarif was brimming with optimism when he arrived earlier in the day and met with Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. |
| “This is a good day for the Iranian people . . . and for the world,” he told Iranian media. “What is going to happen today is proof . . . that major problems in the world could be tackled through dialogue, not threats, pressures and sanctions.” | “This is a good day for the Iranian people . . . and for the world,” he told Iranian media. “What is going to happen today is proof . . . that major problems in the world could be tackled through dialogue, not threats, pressures and sanctions.” |
| [Full text of the Iran nuclear deal] | [Full text of the Iran nuclear deal] |
| Under the agreement, the Vienna-based IAEA is tasked with verifying that Iran has met the terms of the deal — including the mothballing of most of its uranium-enrichment centrifuges, the shipment of enriched-uranium stockpiles out of the country and the disabling its Arak nuclear reactor, capable of yielding plutonium. The IAEA is also charged with monitoring the country’s program for years to come to ensure that Iran is not moving toward nuclear weapons production. | Under the agreement, the Vienna-based IAEA is tasked with verifying that Iran has met the terms of the deal — including the mothballing of most of its uranium-enrichment centrifuges, the shipment of enriched-uranium stockpiles out of the country and the disabling its Arak nuclear reactor, capable of yielding plutonium. The IAEA is also charged with monitoring the country’s program for years to come to ensure that Iran is not moving toward nuclear weapons production. |
| Iran has said that it never intended to build nuclear weapons and that its program is for peaceful energy and medical research purposes. | Iran has said that it never intended to build nuclear weapons and that its program is for peaceful energy and medical research purposes. |
| International sanctions are officially lifted as soon as the IAEA certification is made, giving Iran access to more than $50 billion in long-frozen assets in international banks. At the same time, the United States will issue guidance to banks and businesses to explain what commerce will be allowed. Some U.S. sanctions will remain in effect. | International sanctions are officially lifted as soon as the IAEA certification is made, giving Iran access to more than $50 billion in long-frozen assets in international banks. At the same time, the United States will issue guidance to banks and businesses to explain what commerce will be allowed. Some U.S. sanctions will remain in effect. |
| Petitions seeking Reziain’s release cited the journalist’s “declining health,” saying he continued to lose weight and suffer from blood pressure complications and other undertreated physical and mental conditions. It said he was subjected to “further interrogations, psychological abuse, and physical mistreatment” and was “forced to wear a hood” when being escorted around the prison by guards or interrogators. | Petitions seeking Reziain’s release cited the journalist’s “declining health,” saying he continued to lose weight and suffer from blood pressure complications and other undertreated physical and mental conditions. It said he was subjected to “further interrogations, psychological abuse, and physical mistreatment” and was “forced to wear a hood” when being escorted around the prison by guards or interrogators. |
| Born in Marin County, Calif., to an Iranian emigre father and an American mother, Rezaian moved to Iran in 2008 and worked as a journalist for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined The Post in 2012 and wrote stories that he hoped would give readers a deeper and more nuanced view of Iran; one of his last recounted the travails of the country’s fledgling baseball team. | Born in Marin County, Calif., to an Iranian emigre father and an American mother, Rezaian moved to Iran in 2008 and worked as a journalist for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle. He joined The Post in 2012 and wrote stories that he hoped would give readers a deeper and more nuanced view of Iran; one of his last recounted the travails of the country’s fledgling baseball team. |
| Rezaian was arrested along with his wife when security forces raided their home on July 22, 2014. Salehi, 31, a journalist who worked for the Abu Dhabi newspaper, the National, was released on bail in October, but Rezaian languished in Evin Prison for months without trial or even specific charges. | Rezaian was arrested along with his wife when security forces raided their home on July 22, 2014. Salehi, 31, a journalist who worked for the Abu Dhabi newspaper, the National, was released on bail in October, but Rezaian languished in Evin Prison for months without trial or even specific charges. |
| In December 2014, Rezaian was officially charged with publicly unspecified offenses, and prosecutors announced a month later that he would be tried in Revolutionary Court. The case was assigned to Abolghassem Salavati, a hard-line judge known for imposing draconian sentences — including long prison terms, lashings and execution — on political prisoners and detainees deemed a threat to national security. Salavati has been under European Union sanctions since 2011. | In December 2014, Rezaian was officially charged with publicly unspecified offenses, and prosecutors announced a month later that he would be tried in Revolutionary Court. The case was assigned to Abolghassem Salavati, a hard-line judge known for imposing draconian sentences — including long prison terms, lashings and execution — on political prisoners and detainees deemed a threat to national security. Salavati has been under European Union sanctions since 2011. |
| Rezaian’s attorney, Leila Ahsan, disclosed last April that an indictment she was allowed to read charged Rezaian with espionage and three other serious crimes, including “collaborating with hostile governments” and “propaganda against the establishment.” Rezaian was also accused of gathering information “about internal and foreign policy” and providing it to “individuals with hostile intent.” | Rezaian’s attorney, Leila Ahsan, disclosed last April that an indictment she was allowed to read charged Rezaian with espionage and three other serious crimes, including “collaborating with hostile governments” and “propaganda against the establishment.” Rezaian was also accused of gathering information “about internal and foreign policy” and providing it to “individuals with hostile intent.” |
| The charges carried a maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, Ahsan said. | The charges carried a maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, Ahsan said. |
| Rezaian and The Post vigorously denied the accusations. | Rezaian and The Post vigorously denied the accusations. |
| When he went on trial in May last year, the court proceedings indicated that some of the claims against Rezaian stemmed from a visit he made to a U.S. consulate regarding a visa for his wife and a letter he wrote seeking a job in the Obama administration in 2008 — material that was apparently taken from his confiscated laptop. | When he went on trial in May last year, the court proceedings indicated that some of the claims against Rezaian stemmed from a visit he made to a U.S. consulate regarding a visa for his wife and a letter he wrote seeking a job in the Obama administration in 2008 — material that was apparently taken from his confiscated laptop. |
| [Imprisonment took “devastating toll” on Post reporter] | [Imprisonment took “devastating toll” on Post reporter] |
| Rezaian holds both U.S. and Iranian citizenship. But Iran, which does not recognize dual nationality, barred any U.S. role in the case, including consular visits by Swiss diplomats representing U.S. interests. Diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran were severed in 1980 during the Iranian hostage crisis. | Rezaian holds both U.S. and Iranian citizenship. But Iran, which does not recognize dual nationality, barred any U.S. role in the case, including consular visits by Swiss diplomats representing U.S. interests. Diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran were severed in 1980 during the Iranian hostage crisis. |
| The last of four Revolutionary Court sessions was held in August, but it was not until October that a court spokesman announced a conviction — without providing any details. In November, the court said Rezaian was sentenced to a prison term, again with no elaboration. | The last of four Revolutionary Court sessions was held in August, but it was not until October that a court spokesman announced a conviction — without providing any details. In November, the court said Rezaian was sentenced to a prison term, again with no elaboration. |
| In the meantime, Iranian officials floated the idea of a prisoner swap with the United States. President Rouhani even suggested that Tehran could free Rezaian and at least two other Iranian American prisoners if Washington reciprocated by releasing 19 Iranian citizens convicted in the United States of circumventing sanctions. | In the meantime, Iranian officials floated the idea of a prisoner swap with the United States. President Rouhani even suggested that Tehran could free Rezaian and at least two other Iranian American prisoners if Washington reciprocated by releasing 19 Iranian citizens convicted in the United States of circumventing sanctions. |
| As if to buttress that proposal, state-run news media in Iran then reported that Rezaian was accused of “spying on Iran’s nuclear programs” and giving the U.S. government information on people and companies evading sanctions. | As if to buttress that proposal, state-run news media in Iran then reported that Rezaian was accused of “spying on Iran’s nuclear programs” and giving the U.S. government information on people and companies evading sanctions. |
| The prisoner-swap maneuvering showed that, for Iran, Rezaian’s innocence was “immaterial” and that what mattered more was whether he could be used to extract political concessions from the United States, The Post argued in its latest submission to the U.N. Working Group in late November. | The prisoner-swap maneuvering showed that, for Iran, Rezaian’s innocence was “immaterial” and that what mattered more was whether he could be used to extract political concessions from the United States, The Post argued in its latest submission to the U.N. Working Group in late November. |
| “The Iranian Government’s indiscriminate, baseless, and constantly evolving theories and allegations — which continue to change even after the conclusion of his trial — provide yet further evidence that Rezaian has committed no crime and is entitled to immediate release and some form of compensation for his wrongful imprisonment,” it said. | “The Iranian Government’s indiscriminate, baseless, and constantly evolving theories and allegations — which continue to change even after the conclusion of his trial — provide yet further evidence that Rezaian has committed no crime and is entitled to immediate release and some form of compensation for his wrongful imprisonment,” it said. |
| Branigin and DeYoung reported from Washington. |