Iranian convert to Christianity Saeed Abedini posing for a picture at an unknown location. (AFP PHOTO / AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE)
Washington, United States:
Four Americans released as part of a prisoner swap with Iran are still inside the country, a senior US official said Saturday.
"As of our latest information, the plane has not departed Iran," the official said. "Having concluded this agreement, there were a number of logistical steps that have to take place."
"We expect those to be completed as soon as possible."
Four Americans -- Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian; Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor from Idaho; Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine; and a fourth man named Nosratollah Khosravi -- are to be released in exchange for seven Iranians currently held in the United States.
"The fifth US citizen who was released, as a separate but clearly associated good will gesture from Iran, Matthew Trevithick, he has already departed Iran," the official said.
Trevithick had been detained for 40 days at Evin Prison in Tehran, according to a statement from his family released to the US Institute of Peace.
He had travelled to the country to take part in an intensive language course.
"As of our latest information, the plane has not departed Iran," the official said. "Having concluded this agreement, there were a number of logistical steps that have to take place."
"We expect those to be completed as soon as possible."
Four Americans -- Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian; Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor from Idaho; Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine; and a fourth man named Nosratollah Khosravi -- are to be released in exchange for seven Iranians currently held in the United States.
"The fifth US citizen who was released, as a separate but clearly associated good will gesture from Iran, Matthew Trevithick, he has already departed Iran," the official said.
Trevithick had been detained for 40 days at Evin Prison in Tehran, according to a statement from his family released to the US Institute of Peace.
He had travelled to the country to take part in an intensive language course.
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