Tehran: Switzerland played a "positive role" in almost a year of efforts for a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States, Tehran's ambassador to the United Nations told state television Saturday.
"It took almost a year and naturally the government of Switzerland as a facilitating country played a positive role in these negotiations," Gholam Ali Khoshroo said, after Iran released four Iranian-Americans and the US freed seven Iranians it was holding.
"The release procedure is ongoing," he said.
A US official had previously confirmed the swap was done "through a diplomatic channel".
The four dual Iranian-American citizens released were The Washington Post's Tehran correspondent Jason Rezaian, Amir Hekmati, a former US Marine, Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Idaho, and Nosratollah Khosravi.
The seven Iranians to be freed by the US are Nader Modanlou, Baharam Mechanic, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahreman, Tooraj Faridi, Nima Golestaneh, and Ali Saboonchi, according to Iran's judiciary and the state broadcaster.
Six of the seven being released from American jails had violated US sanctions on Iran, while Nima Golestaneh, 30, was convicted of "facilitating computer hacking of a Vermont company", according to US Department of Justice press statements.
In addition to releasing the seven prisoners, the United States also removed Interpol red notices and dismissed charges against 14 more Iranians, Khoshrou said, confirming remarks by the US official.
The US official also said Tehran has promised to help the United States determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent that went missing in Iran in March 2007.
AFP
