Idaho Pastor’s Wife Says “Huge Burden’ Lifted with Release from Iran

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The wife of an Idaho pastor who is among four detained Americans being released from Iran says a "huge burden" is being lifted with the news.

Naghmeh Abedini told The Associated Press that after she learned that Saeed Abedini was to be released early Saturday, she woke her kids up shortly afterward and told them "Daddy was coming home." She says they were excited and couldn't believe it.

The Boise man was detained for compromising national security, presumably because of Christian proselytizing, in September 2012. He was sentenced in 2013 to 8 years in prison.

U.S. officials say Saeed Abedini and three other Americans were to be flown from Iran to Switzerland and then taken to a U.S. military hospital in Germany for medical treatment. U.S. officials also say a fifth American was released, but it was not related to the that release. Naghmeh Abedini says it's been "a really hard battle" over the past few years and that she is looking forward to her husband's return.