There are multiple reports citing Iranian media that four American citizens who have been held in Iran either have been, or will be, released:
— mehdi mahmoudi (@mehdimahmudi) January 16, 2016
BBC News: Iran announces that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and three Iranian Americans have been freed from prison
— Paul Danahar (@pdanahar) January 16, 2016
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Source close to Iran judiciary tells the AP that Jason Rezaian released.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 16, 2016
The Post itself is now reporting on Rezaian's imminent release, only citing Iranian news agencies. https://t.co/SEnZWZL7Tv
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 16, 2016
This is a great, great day, if true: Reporting from Iran indicates that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian is being freed.
— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) January 16, 2016
From Reuters:
Iran has released four prisoners with dual Iranian-U.S. nationality, the Tehran public prosecutor was quoted as saying on Saturday, without giving further details.
“In line with orders from the Supreme National Security Council and in the national interest, four Iranian dual national prisoners have been released in a prisoner swap,” Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi was quoted as saying by Iranian news agencies.
The release is reportedly part of a prisoner swap:
US also to release 6 Iranian-American prisoners in exchange, those who convicted of sanctions violation.@MashreghNews_ir
— mehdi mahmoudi (@mehdimahmudi) January 16, 2016
BREAKING: Iranian TV says reporter Jason Rezaian released in prisoner swap between Iran and U.S. pic.twitter.com/tXQN1lZxwP
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 16, 2016
This is how the Iranians roll: take hostages to gain release of their terrorists. It's how all terror groups operate https://t.co/SIkGDqRix2
— Omri Ceren (@cerenomri) January 16, 2016
The report about the release of prisoners comes shortly after Iran detained ten U.S. sailors and used photos of their arrest for propaganda purposes.
Update:
BREAKING: VIENNA (AP) — US official: Freed American prisoners to be flown to Switzerland from Iran by Swiss plane.
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) January 16, 2016
BREAKING: U.S. officials confirm to CNN that Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Nosratollah Khosrawi are being released today.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 16, 2016
Iranian state media names all 4 released in prisoner swap: Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmat, Saeed Abedini and Nosratollah Khosrawi.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 16, 2016
BREAKING: US official: Iran also releasing 5th detained American, unrelated to prisoner swap.
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 16, 2016
