Pastor Saeed Abedini Says US Asked Him to Buy Ticket Home

Saeed Abedini
Pastor Saeed Abedini Facebook/Saeed Abedini

Pastor Saeed Abedini, who was imprisoned in Iran for several years, revealed that the U.S. government told him he would have to buy his own ticket to return home.

Abedini was incarcerated in Iran’s Evin Prison since 2012, and many groups fought for his release for years. Finally, in January, he was set free and allowed to go home to his family in the U.S.

Upon his release, the American government apparently took him to Germany. He was made to undergo a medical checkup, and he spent a few days in a hospital.

While in Germany, he was told that he should secure his own ticket back to the U.S. Apparently, the people who helped him leave Iran was tasked with simply getting him out of Iran, not taking him all the way home.

“In Germany, actually, they told us, ‘You need to buy your own ticket to come to the United States,’ and I was shocked,” Abedini said in an interview. “I said, ‘How come?’ And they said ‘that was our job to bring you out of Iran, not bring you inside the United States.’”

The news caught him by surprise because, having just been released from prison, he practically had nothing with him save for the clothes on his back.

“We were actually all shocked because I came out; I just had prison clothes and [they] just told us you need to buy your own ticket,” Abedini said.

His release also raised questions of whether the U.S. government paid Iran a ransom of $400 million. Last month, a report went out providing details about an exchange of money between the Iranian and U.S. governments.

The exchange was “specifically timed to the release of several American prisoners held in Iran,” the report said.

When asked about the issue in August, Abedini said he had suspicions that it was true, but he and his companions did not discuss money.

“We call them terrorists and I don’t believe they are going to use this money for building orphanages, which I was arrested for, but I prefer that the politicians answer this question,” he explained.

However, in a recent article he wrote for Fox News, Abedini said that although he couldn’t believe it at first, he later realized he was a “bargaining chip in a much larger political game.”

“At the time I didn’t believe it – I thought America would never give Iran money,” he said. "As much as I was concerned for my own well being, I knew the mullahs. I knew they would use that money to torture thousands more people, maybe hundreds of thousands.”

However, he holds no bitterness toward the U.S. government.

“Today I am deeply thankful to God and the United States that I’m free. Please, do not read an ounce of ingratitude in this,” he wrote.

Abedini was a former Muslim who turned his back on Islam and embraced Christianity in 2000. He established an orphanage in Iran, which he visited from time to time. In 2012, while he was in Iran, he was placed under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was later on imprisoned. He was charged with undermining national security.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.