In a statement issued at UN Headquarters in New York on Saturday, the Secretary-General welcomed reports of the release of a number of Americans who had been detained in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, and of a number of Iranians held by the United States of America following an agreement between the two Governments.
The Secretary-General commended the recent moves by the Governments of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran to improve ties.
He expressed the hope that the parties move on to fully implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in good faith and to increase cooperation on other pressing international and regional matters.
Finally, the Secretary General affirmed the need for all concerned in the region to make the world a safer place through dialogue and peaceful means.
LR/PR