US hostage Michael White: Trump thanks Switzerland

“I thank Switzerland for its great support,” Trump wrote on Thursday in the short message service Twitter. The reason for the thanks from the White House is the help from Bern, which led to the release of Michael White (59). The ex-US military officer was released on Thursday after nearly two years in prison in Iran.

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A short time later, Trump spoke up again. He had just called White. «After his release, he is now in Zurich. He will soon be on a US plane and will come home, »said the President. Information from the news agency AP flew White over Zurich, where he was received by US Special Envoy Brian Hook (52) and a doctor. He should already be on his way home early Friday morning.

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White’s mother Joanne said through her lawyer that the family is finally ending a 683 day nightmare. Michael White was a “hostage” to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, she said.

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Exchange of prisoners with Iran

Iran’s Foreign Office spokesman Abbas Mussavi (49) confirmed White’s release on Thursday evening. In return, according to Mousavi, Iranian scientist Majid Taheri was released in the United States. Foreign Minister Mohammed Dschawad Sarif (60) also commented on the prisoner exchange on Twitter and was pleased that both White and Taheri would be reunited with their families very soon.

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According to media reports, the scientist and doctor Taheri, who is also an American citizen, was detained 16 months ago for alleged violations of US sanctions. Whether Taheri would also travel to Iran after his release was initially unclear.

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Cassis is happy about success

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) confirmed the action on Thursday evening. Switzerland had contributed to the success of the humanitarian gesture that led to the release of White and Taheri. The FDFA would like to thank both countries for their trust and cooperation in this matter.

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Switzerland is ready for further contributions from the facilitation, in accordance with its longstanding tradition of good service, the EDA wrote. Switzerland has represented the interests of the United States in the Islamic Republic of Iran for decades. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (59) wrote on Twitter of a success.

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The then 46-year-old Californian White was arrested in July 2018. According to media reports at the time, White had traveled to Iran to visit his girlfriend’s family. In March 2019, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for insulting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, 81, and posting personal photos on social networks, according to his lawyer.

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