Former Iranian Captive Rezaian Recounts Mental Abuse

The world is hearing more about some of the abuse inflicted by the Islamic regime in Iran against one of the Americans they held hostage.

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian spoke Thursday at an event for the newspaper.

He was freed along with four other Americans, including Pastor Saeed Abedini, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, and graduate student Matthew Trevithick, in a prisoner swap with Iran.

Rezaian choked back emotions as he briefly recounted some of the mental torture inflicted on him.

"For much of the 18 months I was in prison, my Iranian interrogators told me that the Washington Post did not exist, that no one knew of my plight and that the United States government would not lift a finger for my release," Rezaian said.

He choked up as he thanked those who helped secure his freedom.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also spoke at that event Thursday, saying he considers it a sacred pledge to never leave a man behind.

Kerry played a role in the prisoner swap deal, which included a payment of $1.7 billion to the Iranian regime, which allegedly was intended to settle an old financial dispute with Iran.

Rezaian was held captive for 545 days.

Pastor Abedini, held hostage by Iran for three-and-a-half years, has confirmed that he was also subjected to physical and psychological abuse by the Iranians. That abuse included being forced to watch other prisoners being executed.