BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (KUNA) -- EU High Representative Catherine Ashton Thursday "warmly welcomed" the release of a group of Iranian political prisoners, including the prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.
"I hope that this positive step will mark a new departure, in line with the commitments announced by the new leadership, and will pave the way for an improvement of the human rights situation in Iran," she said in a brief statement.
Iran reportedly released 11 political prisoners on Wednesday, days before the visit of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.