After a plane carrying Americans formerly imprisoned in Iran had left Tehran on Sunday, Barack Obama hailed their release and the end of sanctions on Iran under the nuclear deal as a triumph of diplomacy over conflict.



“This is a good day,” the president said in a statement to the press at the White House largely aimed at critics of his administration, “because once again we’re seeing what’s possible with strong American diplomacy.”

Obama said talks with Iran had avoided “another war in the Middle East” and had left the US “better placed to address other issues”, such as this week’s capture and brief detention by Iran of 10 US sailors whose two small vessels strayed into Iranian waters.

“That could have sparked a major international incident,” said Obama, who has largely staked his foreign policy legacy on an opening with Iran. “Some folks here in Washington rushed to declare that it was the start of another hostage crisis. Instead, we worked directly with the Iranian government and secured the release of our sailors in less than 24 hours.”

Heralding the achievements of the nuclear deal, Obama cautioned that it did not solve all the issues between the two countries. Though Americans remained imprisoned or missing in the Islamic Republic, he said, “a unique opportunity, a window” had “brought progress on a number of fronts”.

The imprisonment of the Americans in Iran had become a cause célèbre among Republicans, almost all of whom vehemently oppose the nuclear accord.

On Saturday, Republican candidates to succeed Obama in the White House were quick to question the lifting of sanctions and the release of prisoners, as they had been to demand strong action over the capture of the American sailors.



Republicans also voiced concern about the White House’s granting of clemency for six Iranian Americans and one Iranian who were charged with sanctions violations.

On Saturday, Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner as the Iowa caucus approaches, attacked what he supposed to be the terms of the deal.

“They’re getting seven people, so essentially they get $150bn plus seven, and we get four,” the billionaire said, in reference to sanctions relief. “I’m happy they’re coming back, but I will tell you, it’s a disgrace they’ve been there so long.”

Before the president spoke, Senator Ted Cruz, appearing on Fox News Sunday, called the Iranians involved in the prisoner deal “seven terrorists” and said with 14 other individuals who will now not be charged, “that’s 21 terrorists helping Iran develop nuclear weapons that they intend to use to try to murder us”.

“It’s set a pattern seen overseas as America negotiating with terrorists,” Cruz said.

Obama duly disagreed, calling the release of the Iranian Americans and one Iranian “a reciprocal humanitarian gesture” and saying: “These individuals were not charged with terrorism or any violent offences. They’re civilians and their release is a one-time gesture … that reflects our willingness to engage with Iran.”

Three Americans and two family members were on a charter plane that left Tehran for Switzerland and landed in Geneva on Sunday afternoon. A US government jet was waiting and subsequently departed for Germany.

Administration officials said the opening with Iran enabled the prisoner release, and dismissed Republicans’ rhetoric as bluster.

“If we did not have this diplomatic channel with Iran, we certainly would not have our Americans coming home,” a senior US administration official said in a call with reporters.

“We believe that diplomacy delivers results. And again, people can, as the president said in the State of Union, reduce their foreign policy to a soundbite. But ultimately that’s not going to be effective in advancing America’s interest.”

Thrilled to see #JasonRezaian land safely in #Geneva tonight after 18 months of unjust imprisonment in #Iran. pic.twitter.com/j0qY6rc5yo — Brett McGurk (@brett_mcgurk) January 17, 2016

One senior official confirmed that a Swiss plane had left Tehran for Geneva, carrying Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post’s Tehran bureau chief, along with his wife and mother; Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Idaho, and Amir Hekmati, a marine veteran from Flint, Michigan. Later, a State Department official, Brett McGurk, confirmed on Twitter that the plane had arrived safely.

Also released on Saturday was Iranian American Nosratollah Khosrawi-Roodsari, who was not aboard the charter plane. It was not immediately clear why. Matthew Trevithick, a writer and researcher, was released on Saturday, although not as part of the deal. The reason for his relatively brief detention in Iran remains unknown, the senior official said.

Relatives and colleagues of the imprisoned Americans expressed joy and relief at news that the men were being released.

“I am incredibly relieved that Jason is on his way home,” said Rezaian’s brother and tireless advocate, Ali Rezaian, in a statement. “He is a talented journalist who was simply doing his job fairly, accurately and lawfully.”

The publisher of the Washington Post confirmed that Rezaian had “safely left the country” with his wife and mother. Rezaian’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, was also arrested in 2014 but had been released on bail.



“Friends and colleagues at the Washington Post are elated by the wonderful news that Jason Rezaian has been released from Evin Prison and has safely left the country with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi,” said Frederick Ryan, in a statement.

“We are relieved that this 545-day nightmare for Jason and his family is finally over … We look forward to the joyous occasion of welcoming him back to the newsroom.”

In a statement, Hekmati’s family said: “It is hard to put into words what our family feels right now. But we remain in hopeful anticipation until Amir is in our arms. As many of you know, Amir’s father is very ill and soon he will embrace his son once more.”



Of another American, Obama said: “Iran has agreed to deepen our coordination as we work to locate Robert Levinson, missing from Iran for more than eight years. Even as we rejoice in the safe return of others, we will never forget about Bob.



“Each and every day, but especially today, our hearts are with the Levinson family, and we will not rest until their family is whole again.”

Levinson, a former FBI agent who was reportedly working in Iran for the CIA, went missing in 2007. The White House has repeatedly and publicly denied that he was in Iran on behalf of any government agency.

Jason Rezaian, in a picture from 2013. Photograph: Vahid Salemi/AP

It was also reported on Saturday that the US had delayed the imposition of sanctions over recent ballistic missile tests by Iran, in order to safeguard the release of those held prisoner. Obama confirmed on Sunday that those and other sanctions would be implemented, despite the nuclear deal and the release of the American prisoners.



Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier and Obama later confirmed that US and Iranian officials negotiated the prisoner exchange on the sidelines of the nuclear talks.



In his statement on Sunday, Obama addressed “the Iranian people”, saying their “great civilisation” now had “a rare chance to pursue a new path”.

In Tehran, speaking to the Iranian parliament, President Hassan Rouhani said that regarding the nuclear deal, “all are happy except Zionists, warmongers, sowers of discord among Islamic nations and extremists in the US”.

Rouhani also said the deal had “opened new windows for engagement with the world”.

The State Department, meanwhile, said the US had settled a “long outstanding claim” by releasing to Tehran $400m in funds frozen since 1981, as well as an additional $1.3bn compromise in interest.

The money was part of a trust fund used by Iran to purchase military equipment from the US prior to the break in diplomatic ties, after which such claims were tied up in litigation at the Iran-US claims tribunal in the Hague. The settlement was announced after Tehran released the American detainees.

“This settlement could save us billions of dollars that could have been pursued by Iran,” Obama said in his address on Sunday. “So there was no benefit to the United States in dragging this out. With the nuclear deal done, prisoners released, the time was right to resolve this dispute as well.”