The former U.S. marine on death row in Iran got a reprieve on Monday when the supreme court there dismissed his death sentence and ordered a new hearing as U.S. President Barack Obama planned to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The court found "shortcomings" with the case against Amir Hekmati, who had been convicted of spying in January, and sent his case for review by another court, CBS reported. ISNA, Iran's student news agency, which is seen as more independent of the government than other agencies such as Fars and Press TV news agency, reported Hekmati's reprieve on Monday, didn't connect the move to Netanyahu's meeting with Obama, but Iran has found a momentary strategic agreement with the United States, where Obama has been working to persuade Israel not to attack its neighbor. "On Monday, [Obama] will try to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to slow quickening pressure among many in his hawkish government to attack Iran’s disputed nuclear development sites," the Boston Herald reported ahead of Obama's meeting with Netanyahu. If Iran's trying to avoid a strike by Israel and its allies, not executing a U.S. citizen does seem like one good-faith gesture it can offer.

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Adam Martin