An American woman who was held in an Iranian prison for more than a year after being arrested on charges of espionage said she was humbled by the experience and thanked Iran's president for her freedom.
Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers detained in Iran, was released on Tuesday after being held for more than a year on charges of espionage.
Iran's state news agency reported Shourd was released on $500,000 bail and will travel to Oman, where her mother is already waiting for her.
Shourd, 31, and two others were imprisoned in July 2009 and accused of illegally crossing the border for the purpose of spying, when they were caught hiking in the hills along the Iran-Iraq border.
Her lawyer, Masoud Shafiei, was quoted by IRNA as saying Shourd is in good mental and physical condition.
Saeed Kamali Dehghan, an Iranian correspondent for Global Radio News, confirmed her release.
"From what I see and what I hear, it seems a deal has been brokered between the Swiss embassy on behalf of the American authorities and the Iranian authorities," Dehghan told 麻豆影视 Channel, Tuesday.
Washington relies on the Swiss Embassy to handle U.S. interests in Iran because it does not have diplomatic relations with Iran. The U.S. government has been very critical of Tehran and has pushed for greater UN sanctions over Iran's continued uranium enrichment.
Dehghan said the family has not been able to pay the full amount of bail, but has provided Iran's judiciary with bank documents in assurance.
Her release comes amid health concerns. Her mother had previously said Shourd needed treatment for a number of serious health problems, including precancerous cervical cells.
"It seems that she was freed because she has precancerous conditions," Dehghan said Tuesday.
Authorities say they have no plans to release her two companions, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, whose detention in a Tehran prison has been extended for two more months.
Political feuding in Iran complicated Shourd's release, which was first announced on Friday as a mark of compassion to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
There is speculation that Shourd's release is connected to the return of Shahram Amiri, a nuclear physicist who returned from the U.S. to Iran in July. Iran claimed Amiri was kidnapped, while the U.S. said he had defected and changed his mind.
With files from The Associated Press
