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| Trump condemns terms of Iran prisoner swap as Republicans join in criticism | Trump condemns terms of Iran prisoner swap as Republicans join in criticism |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Republican presidential candidates scrambled to react to a prisoner swap between the US and Iran on Saturday morning, expressing both celebration and scorn on the day sanctions relief begins for the Middle East nation. | Republican presidential candidates scrambled to react to a prisoner swap between the US and Iran on Saturday morning, expressing both celebration and scorn on the day sanctions relief begins for the Middle East nation. |
| Related: Iran releases Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in prisoner swap with US | Related: Iran releases Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in prisoner swap with US |
| In New Hampshire, frontrunner Donald Trump questioned what the US gained from the deal, in which four American-Iranian dual-nationals were released and seven Iranians held on sanctions violations were released or pardoned. | In New Hampshire, frontrunner Donald Trump questioned what the US gained from the deal, in which four American-Iranian dual-nationals were released and seven Iranians held on sanctions violations were released or pardoned. |
| “They’re getting seven people, so essentially they get $150bn plus seven, and we get four,” the billionaire said. | “They’re getting seven people, so essentially they get $150bn plus seven, and we get four,” the billionaire said. |
| “I’m happy they’re coming back, but I will tell you it’s a disgrace they’ve been there so long,” he continued. | “I’m happy they’re coming back, but I will tell you it’s a disgrace they’ve been there so long,” he continued. |
| Senator Rand Paul, who opposed the deal in Congress, took a measured tone in an interview with the Guardian, calling the release “a hopeful sign about the agreement” and “a sign that we need to continue to try to see if negotiations will work”. | Senator Rand Paul, who opposed the deal in Congress, took a measured tone in an interview with the Guardian, calling the release “a hopeful sign about the agreement” and “a sign that we need to continue to try to see if negotiations will work”. |
| A US official confirmed to the Guardian that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, pastor Saeed Abedini, Nosratollah Khosrawi-Roodsari and marine veteran Amir Hekmati were released. In exchange, the US offered clemency to seven Iranians facing trial or convictions, the official said. | A US official confirmed to the Guardian that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, pastor Saeed Abedini, Nosratollah Khosrawi-Roodsari and marine veteran Amir Hekmati were released. In exchange, the US offered clemency to seven Iranians facing trial or convictions, the official said. |
| A US official told Reuters Iran released a fifth captive, student Matthew Trevithick, separately. | A US official told Reuters Iran released a fifth captive, student Matthew Trevithick, separately. |
| Paul called Abedini, who has been held since September 2012, “an incredibly brave man to believe so strongly in Christianity, willing to risk imprisonment for it”. | Paul called Abedini, who has been held since September 2012, “an incredibly brave man to believe so strongly in Christianity, willing to risk imprisonment for it”. |
| Texas senator Ted Cruz also celebrated the release of Abedini on Twitter, saying: “Praise God! Surely bad parts of Obama’s latest deal, but prayers of thanksgiving that Pastor Saeed is coming home.” | Texas senator Ted Cruz also celebrated the release of Abedini on Twitter, saying: “Praise God! Surely bad parts of Obama’s latest deal, but prayers of thanksgiving that Pastor Saeed is coming home.” |
| Praise God! Surely bad parts of Obama's latest deal, but prayers of thanksgiving that Pastor Saeed is coming home. https://t.co/rad1VcWUml | Praise God! Surely bad parts of Obama's latest deal, but prayers of thanksgiving that Pastor Saeed is coming home. https://t.co/rad1VcWUml |
| The releases coincide with the lifting of economic sanctions and the unfreezing of some $100bn in assets under the terms of the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and several nations, including the US, in July 2015. | The releases coincide with the lifting of economic sanctions and the unfreezing of some $100bn in assets under the terms of the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and several nations, including the US, in July 2015. |
| The deal passed its final hurdles in the US Congress in September despite steady Republican opposition. In exchange for Iran dismantling much of its nuclear infrastructure, the agreement lifts crippling economic sanctions on the oil-rich nation. | The deal passed its final hurdles in the US Congress in September despite steady Republican opposition. In exchange for Iran dismantling much of its nuclear infrastructure, the agreement lifts crippling economic sanctions on the oil-rich nation. |
| Senator Marco Rubio, answering questions after a town hall event in Iowa on Saturday, said so-called prisoner “swaps” had “created an incentive” for governments around the world to take hostages. | Senator Marco Rubio, answering questions after a town hall event in Iowa on Saturday, said so-called prisoner “swaps” had “created an incentive” for governments around the world to take hostages. |
| “Governments are taking Americans hostage because they believe they can gain concessions from this government under Barack Obama,” Rubio said. | “Governments are taking Americans hostage because they believe they can gain concessions from this government under Barack Obama,” Rubio said. |
| New Jersey governor Chris Christie, also in Iowa, echoed Rubio’s concerns. | New Jersey governor Chris Christie, also in Iowa, echoed Rubio’s concerns. |
| “We shouldn’t have to swap prisoners,” he said. “These folks were taken illegally in violation of international law and they should have been released without condition. But you know, the Iranians have treated this president with disrespect for years and he continues to take it.” | “We shouldn’t have to swap prisoners,” he said. “These folks were taken illegally in violation of international law and they should have been released without condition. But you know, the Iranians have treated this president with disrespect for years and he continues to take it.” |
| “Remember the last time we had Iranian hostages,” Christie added in a statement, referring to the 1979 hostage crisis. “As soon as Ronald Reagan took the oath of office those Iranians returned our citizens immediately because they knew if they didn’t they would have to face the strength of character and the wrath of Ronald Reagan.” | “Remember the last time we had Iranian hostages,” Christie added in a statement, referring to the 1979 hostage crisis. “As soon as Ronald Reagan took the oath of office those Iranians returned our citizens immediately because they knew if they didn’t they would have to face the strength of character and the wrath of Ronald Reagan.” |
| Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said he was “very pleased” by the release and “overjoyed for the families and friends” of the former prisoners. Carson did not comment on the prisoner deal, but did condemn the “disastrous” agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. | Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said he was “very pleased” by the release and “overjoyed for the families and friends” of the former prisoners. Carson did not comment on the prisoner deal, but did condemn the “disastrous” agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. |
| “The fact remains that President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran is fatally flawed and gravely jeopardizes the national security interests of the American people,” he said in a statement. | “The fact remains that President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran is fatally flawed and gravely jeopardizes the national security interests of the American people,” he said in a statement. |
| Rezaian, who had been serving as the Tehran bureau chief for the Washington Post, was taken into custody by Iranian officials in July 2014. In October 2015, an Iranian court convicted him of several crimes, including espionage and “propaganda against the establishment”, in a closed-door proceeding widely criticised by the US government and press freedom organizations. | Rezaian, who had been serving as the Tehran bureau chief for the Washington Post, was taken into custody by Iranian officials in July 2014. In October 2015, an Iranian court convicted him of several crimes, including espionage and “propaganda against the establishment”, in a closed-door proceeding widely criticised by the US government and press freedom organizations. |
| Related: Lifting of Iran sanctions is 'a good day for the world' | Related: Lifting of Iran sanctions is 'a good day for the world' |
| Rezaian, born in California, is a dual citizen of the US and Iran, although Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens and treated Rezaian as an Iranian. | Rezaian, born in California, is a dual citizen of the US and Iran, although Iran does not recognize dual nationality for its citizens and treated Rezaian as an Iranian. |
| Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who is hovering near the bottom of the polls, released a statement that asked why it took the US so long to secure the prisoners’ release. He also compared sanctions relief for Iran to “writing a $150bn check to Adolf Hitler before WWII hoping he’ll behave”. | Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who is hovering near the bottom of the polls, released a statement that asked why it took the US so long to secure the prisoners’ release. He also compared sanctions relief for Iran to “writing a $150bn check to Adolf Hitler before WWII hoping he’ll behave”. |
| Huckabee added praise for Abedini: “Well done Saeed! You are a faithful servant! And welcome home!” | Huckabee added praise for Abedini: “Well done Saeed! You are a faithful servant! And welcome home!” |
| Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders also addressed the release in a statement, saying: “This good news shows that diplomacy can work even in this volatile region of the world.” | Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders also addressed the release in a statement, saying: “This good news shows that diplomacy can work even in this volatile region of the world.” |
| In a statement, Hillary Clinton – the Democratic frontrunner and a former secretary of state – said: “I am greatly relieved by the safe return of American prisoners from Iran. Their families and our country have waited and prayed for this day to come.” | |
| Clinton added that the nuclear deal with Iran was “an important achievement of diplomacy backed by pressure”, and said: “These are important steps that make the United States, our allies and the entire world safer. I congratulate President Obama and his team, and I’m proud of the role I played to get this process started.” | |
| Clinton also noted that “another American, Bob Levinson, still isn’t home with his family” and said “the treatment of our navy sailors earlier this week was offensive”. | |
| “Iran is still violating UN security council resolutions with its ballistic missile program,” she added, “which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve.” |