U.S. Marine Freed by Iran Arrives Home in Michigan

Amir Hekmati, the U.S. Marine freed from an Iranian prison on Saturday, arrived home to applause in Michigan on Thursday, NBC News reported.

Hekmati was released as part of a prisoner exchange along with Christian minister Saeed Abedini, Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, and another American, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari.

"I'm happy to finally be home," Hekmati said after landing in Flint. "It's been a very long road. A very long journey." 

Hekmati, 32, was arrested while visiting his grandmother in Iran in 2011. He was accused of spying and sentenced to death in January 2012. The Iranian Supreme Court overturned the death sentence and Hekmati was awaiting a second trial while his family worked to get him released.

"I'm standing here healthy, tall, my head held high," he said. 

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