Freed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian said Wednesday he’s feeling fine and looking forward to watching basketball and seeing the new “Star Wars” movie.
{mosads}“I want everyone to know that I’m feeling fine, and I feel lucky to be here at a place where I can get such terrific care,” he said in a written statement released by the Post. “For now, I want to catch up with what’s been going on in the world, watch a Warriors game or two, and see the ‘Star Wars’ movie.”
Rezaian was released from Iranian custody Saturday after nearly 18 months in captivity as part of a prisoner swap between Tehran and the United States.
The release was part of whirlwind weekend of developments in Iran-U.S. relations that also saw the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear agreement reached last year.
Since leaving Iran, Rezaian has been in Landstuhl, Germany, receiving medical treatment at a U.S. military hospital.
Wednesday’s statement was the first public comment Rezaian has made since his release.
In the statement, he indicated he doesn’t plan on speaking publicly about the issue again soon.
“I’ve spent a lot of my life writing about the United States and Iran, and I never imagined — and never wanted — to become a part of the story, particularly at such an extraordinary moment,” he said. “I want to get back to writing the U.S.-Iran story at some point in the future. But I won’t be saying anything further for awhile.”
Marine veteran Amir Hekmati, who was also released in Saturday’s deal, also released a statement Wednesday thanking the public for its support.
“I am learning more about the grassroots support I received from ordinary people from across the world over the past four and a half years,” he wrote in a statement posted to the “Free Amir Hekmati” social media accounts. “I wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you have done to keep my name a part of the conversation and for the kindness and support that you have given my family during the darkest period of our lives.”
— Updated at 1:16 p.m.