A U.S. Navy veteran who has been held captive in Iran for nearly two years was released Thursday and is on his way back home aboard a Swiss aircraft, according to family.
“I am blessed to announce that the nightmare is over, and my son is safely on his way home,” White’s mother, Joanne White, said in a statement.
She thanked Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who was instrumental in the negotiations with the Iranians, reports said.
Michael White, of Imperial, California, had been in Iranian custody since July 2018.
He was sentenced in 2019 to serve a 10 year sentence after being convicted of “stealing trade secrets” and insulting Iran’s supreme leader. The vague charges were leveled after he reportedly met a woman online and traveled to the country to meet her.
He was reportedly the last remaining American known to be imprisoned in Iran since President Donald Trump took office.
The U.S. special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, flew to Zurich with a doctor to meet freed detainee Michael White and will accompany White back to the United States, the officials said, according to The Associated Press.
An Iranian scientist detained in the U.S. was released several days ago, although U.S. officials have not described White’s release as an official prisoner swap. The two nations did reach an agreement on the release of both men following months of negotiations.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have reached a boiling point since earlier this year after Trump ordered airstrikes that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the country’s top military leader.
Both nations had been at odds already over Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement in January. Iran has since been accused of launching several small-scale attacks against oil vessels in the Persian Gulf region, prompting U.S. forces to be on high alert. Trump has vowed retaliation if the country makes any threats toward U.S. ships.
— This is a developing story. Please check back with AJC.com for continuing updates.
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