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Prayer Answered, Pastor Saeed Abedini Released from Prison

CBN

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It's the news Christians around the world have been hoping praying and hoping to hear - Pastor Saeed Abedini is free after nearly four years in an Iranian Prison.
 
"It was a God moment," said Jay Sekulow Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice.
 
"As much as our lawyers worked really hard, and our teams around the world worked really hard,  there were millions of people praying in probably as many languages as there are people groups," Sekulow added.
 
In an exclusive interview with CBN News Pastor Saeed's wife Naghmeh spoke about how she told her children their father was coming home.
 
"Even though it was 7:30 on a weekend they jumped up. They were jumping up and down rejoicing, it was very loud very joyful and I could see a heavy weight lifted off their little shoulders," Naghmeh recalled.
 
She also spoke about the e-mails leaked in November  citing her decision to end public advocacy for Pastor Saeed because of marital issues.
 
"Even though I stopped the media, I was always working with our government and different governments to get him out. I love him, but there are serious issues that we need to deal with once he's home," said Naghmeh.
 
Iranian State television confirmed the news on Saturday. The announcement comes on the same day Iran and world powers implemented a landmark nuclear deal that lifts sanctions against the country.
 
"It's hard to ignore the obvious. The administration had denied that there was any tie in between the sanctions and discussions, and the Americans being released," said Sekulow.
 
Also released were former Marine Amir Hekmati, Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezian along with at least two other prisoners.
 
A White House source tells CBN News in return for the release, the U.S. will either pardon or drop charges against at least six Iranians. As of Saturday, little is known about who the prisoners are.
 
"We don't have the details on who they are, that's not been released and I don't think it will be today, said Sekulow.
 
He added, "What I surmise over the conversations that I've had over the last several years actually is that these were going to be individuals that were not designated terrorists."
 
A White House source also tells CBN News, Iran has committed to continue cooperating with the United States to determine the whereabouts of Robert Levinson, who has been held in Iran since 2007.
 
In a statement posted online his family wrote," We are happy for the other families, but once again Bob Levinson has been left behind. We are devastated. #WhatAboutBob."

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