Four freed Iranian-Americans heading to Switzerland

Four Iranian-American citizens freed by Iran in a prisoner swap with the United States have left Tehranand are flying to Bern in Switzerland, Iranian statetelevision reported Sunday.

Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post's Tehran correspondent,Saeed Abedini, a Christian pastor, former US Marine Amir Hekmati, andNosratollah Khosravi, departed ‘on a special Swiss plane’, the report said.

Iranannounced their release on Saturday, just hours before Tehran'shistoric nuclear deal with world powers was implemented, in exchange for Washington pardoningseven Iranians accused of sanctions-busting.

State television said the seven Iranians -- Nader Modanlou,Baharam Mechanic, Khosrow Afghahi, Arash Ghahreman, Tooraj Faridi, NimaGolestaneh, and Ali Saboonchi -- ‘will be freed today’.

A fifth American was also released in a separate process, a US official hassaid.

Iran'sambassador to the United Nations, Gholam Ali Khoshroo, said on Saturday that Switzerlandplayed a ‘positive role’ in the prisoner swap.

The UN nuclear watchdog announced late Saturday that Iran hadcomplied with its side of the July 2015 accord, allowing the lifting ofsanctions.