Obama lifts nuclear-related sanctions on Iran

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran correspondent, is pictured at The Washington Post in Washington, DC in this Nov 6, 2013 handout photo. Rezaian was one of four American prisoners released by Iran ahead of the expected lifting of international sanctions on Iran Jan 16, 2016 as part of a deal between major powers and Iran to curb Tehran's nuclear program. [Photo/Agencies]

Obama's announcement to lift sanctions on Iran came just hours after Iran said it had released four Americans, including a Washington Post reporter, Jason Rezaian, as part of a prisoner swap with the United States.

Iran's prosecutor general announced that "in line with the order of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and the interests of the country, Iran has released four Iranian dual-national prisoners as a part of prisoners swap."

When talking to IRINN on Saturday, an informed source identified the released inmates as the Iranian-Americans: Saeed Abedini, Amir Mirzaee Hekmati, Nosratollah Khosravi and Jason Rezaian.

US media reported that Washington will either pardon or drop charges against seven Iranians in exchange for the prisoner swap.

The seven Iranians - six of whom are dual citizens - were either accused or convicted of violating US sanctions.