Iranian deputy FM elaborates on freedom of 48 Iranian pilgrims

IRI Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian elaborated on the Islamic Republic of Iran's timely and vigilant efforts which resulted in freedom of 48 Iranian pilgrims from the captivity of terrorists in Syria, IRNA reported.

With the help of God, announcement of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's peace initiative for bringing back stability to the Arab country, and also preparedness of the Syrian government for implementation of Assad's peace plan, including freedom of prisoners, we witnessed the return of the Syrian prisoners to their families,' Amir Abdollahian said.

The Iranian diplomat noted that besides this attempt and advancement in Syria's security conditions, the all-out efforts by the Iranian Foreign Ministry as well as other concerned organizations in the country, the freedom of 48 Iranian pilgrims was materialized.

Amir Abdollahian thanked Turkey's humanitarian aid agency (IHH) and the attempts by Qatar's government for their effective role in freedom of the 48 Iranian pilgrims.

On Wednesday, the Syrian government freed 2,130 prisoners in exchange for the release of 48 Iranians held by Syrian rebels. The released prisoners had been arrested and imprisoned by the Syrian government.

On August 4, armed insurgents in Syria kidnapped 48 Iranian pilgrims who were traveling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zainab on the outskirts of Damascus.