Iranian authorities confiscated Azima's passport in January and charged her with spreading propaganda against the state in her work for Radio Farda. On September 4, she was allowed to pick up her passport and told that the travel ban against her had been lifted.
RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin welcomed the decision, and said that Azima's long ordeal in Iran will soon be over. "The return of her passport brings us much closer to the day when she can be reunited with her children and newborn grandson, as well as her colleagues at Radio Farda," Gedmin said.
BBG Chairman James Glassman said that "Azima embodies the commitment of the staff of Radio Farda, and all U.S. international broadcasters, to the fair and impartial transmission of news to audiences denied access to such journalism."
A U.S. State Department spokesman, Tom Casey, also praised the development. He added that the State Department hopes that "other Americans detained or prevented from leaving the country will also be able to do so in the near future."
Azima told Radio Farda that her legal situation remains unclear, and the case against her is still open. She said that her mother's house, which was put up as bail for her release, would not be returned, and that a court date has yet to be set.
She has said she intends to leave Iran as soon as possible.
Read the RFE/RL statement on the end of Iran's travel ban against Azima.