WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday welcomed as a “humanitarian gesture” Iran’s release of U.S.-born journalist Roxana Saberi, who had been jailed on spying charges.

“He was relieved to see that Roxana Saberi has been released,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said at a news conference. “We know this has been a trying time for her family and friends and he looks forward to welcoming her home to the United States. We want to continue to stress that she was wrongly accused, but we welcome this humanitarian gesture.”