Clinton Welcomes Saberi Release

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is welcoming the release of an American journalist who had been jailed in Iran for four months.

Clinton told reporters at the State Department that the Obama administration disputes the spying charges against 32-year-old Roxanna Saberi and objects to the verdict rendered against her by an Iranian court. But she said the administration is "heartened" by Saberi's release on Monday.

"She is currently with her family, and will be leaving Tehran to return to the United States in the coming days. Obviously, we continue to take issue with the charges against her and the verdicts rendered, but we are very heartened that she has been released, and wish her and her family all of the very best we can send their way," Clinton said.

Saberi is a dual Iranian-American citizen. She was arrested in late January and after a one-day trial was given an eight-year prison sentence.

“We see it as a humanitarian gesture. We welcome it as such. We continue to have a lot of concerns about Iran," said new State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.  "We will continue to press for the safe return of all American citizens detained in Iran."

Click here to read more about Saberi's release.