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U.S. Official: Iran Frees 4 American Prisoners

TEHRAN, IRAN (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Iran has released four Iranian-American prisoners into U.S. custody as part of a prisoner swap, a United States official said Saturday.

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The U.S. official identified three of the freed Americans as Washington Post bureau chief Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, and pastor Saeed Abedini. The fourth prisoner remained unidentified.

Rezaian, a dual Iran-U.S. citizen, was convicted in 2015 of espionage in a closed-door trial.

The U.S. official said the Americans were to be flown to Switzerland from Iran by Swiss plane. They would then be brought to a U.S. military base in Landstuhl, Germany, for medical treatment.

In exchange, the United States will pardon or drop charges against 7 Iranians -- six of whom are dual citizens -- accused or convicted of violating U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. will also drop Interpol "red notices" -- essentially arrest warrants -- on a handful of Iranian fugitives it has sought.

The prisoner swap was clinched within the last 24 hours after 14 months of negotiations, according to the U.S. official.

As 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported, Sen. Charles Schumer said he doesn't know enough yet about the details of the deal to comment on the exchange itself, but to the larger question:

"It's always good when Americans are freed. That's one of the jobs of our government -- when foreign governments treat them poorly, unfairly, to get them free. And thank God they're free," Schumer said.

The major diplomatic breakthrough was announced Saturday as the implementation of a landmark nuclear deal appeared imminent.

Schumer said he's still opposed to the nuclear deal, which many are suggesting helped make the prisoner swap possible, Stern reported.

Schumer said he always knew Iran would behave itself before economic sanctions are lifted and that the test is how Iran acts afterward.

Iran has also released a fifth detained America, a student identified as Matthew Trevithnick, but the release was unrelated to the planned prisoner exchange, the official said.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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