BEIRUT AND VIENNA — With Austria helping to secure her release, Iranian American journalist Roxana Saberi arrived in Vienna on Friday, days after she was released from prison in Iran following an appeals court decision suspending her sentence on an espionage charge.
Saberi and her parents left Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport for the Austrian capital, where they were greeted by United States Consulate officials, an American Embassy representative said. She and her father, Reza Saberi, told reporters they would stay at the home of a friend for several days before leaving for the U.S.
"I came to Vienna because I heard it was a calm and relaxing place," Saberi, smiling and at ease at the airport, said in comments broadcast by Austria's ORF television. "I know you have many questions, but I need some more time to think about what happened to me."
She said she was not prepared to talk about her months-long ordeal. "I will talk about it more in the future, I hope, but I am not prepared at this time," she said.
Austria's role in helping secure Saberi's release highlighted contrasting diplomatic approaches toward Iran. The United States has no diplomatic presence in the Islamic Republic, but Austria remains heavily engaged with Iran, pursuing business deals while pressing for improvements in its human rights record.
Austria's ambassador to Tehran, Michael Postl, speaks Persian and maintains a wide array of Iranian connections.
"We have developed a major network of contacts over the years," said Peter Launsky- Tiefenthal, spokesman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry. "This has helped to create an environment which helped to ensure her release."
Launsky-Tiefenthal said the Swiss Embassy, which represents U.S. interests in Iran, also played a key role in pushing for Saberi's release.
Hours after his daughter was freed Monday, Reza Saberi delivered a speech praising Islam and Persian poetry at a cultural center in Tehran operated by the Austrian Embassy. Launsky-Tiefenthal said the appearance was "long planned" and happened to coincide with Roxana Saberi's release.
Austria wields some economic influence in Iran. Austrian energy giant OMV conducts billions of dollars in business with the Islamic Republic. Austria's Steyr-Mannlicher has sold the country light weaponry, including high-powered rifles.
