Washington Post founder Jeff Bezos accompanied reporter Jason Rezaian on a private plane back to the U.S. after he was held in Iran since July 2014. Rezaian was freed over the weekend but was first flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to receive treatment.
Jeff Bezos and Jason Rezaian before heading back to US (credit @jehld) pic.twitter.com/qydNWDjwi3
— Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) January 22, 2016
Bezos, who also owns Amazon.com, was with Rezaian when he was flown to the U.S. from Germany with his family on Friday and said that he is happy to have the Post journalist free, according to Reuters.
Wheels up and out of Iranian airspace! Jason, Yegi, and Mary aboard. Doug Jehl and Ali Rezaian worked tirelessly on this. #JasonIsFree — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) January 17, 2016
"Jeff had dinner with the Rezaians Thursday evening at the Army base in Germany and then flew them back home," an unnamed spokesman said, according to CNN Money. "Like all of us, he is incredibly happy they are safe and sound."
Rezaian stayed in a guest house in a U.S. military base in Germany together with his family before he was flown back to the United States.
"Today my family and I left Landstuhl to return home to the United States," the freed journalist said in a statement, The Washington Post reported. "I appreciate the exceptional care I received from the doctors and medical staff, as well as the hospitality we were shown during our stay on the base."
In a recent statement, Rezaian thanked all the people and their efforts into helping him. He added that he wants to write again about the story between the U.S. and Iran sometime in the future, but he would resume his private life with his family in the meantime.
"I hope everyone will respect my need for privacy as I take some time for myself and for my family. 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 said in the statement, according to The Washington Post.
