Iranian Foreign Minister Hussain Amirbadolhian He stated on state television in the country that Tehran and Washington had agreed on a prisoner exchange deal, Reuters news agency reported today (Sunday). The Iranian minister emphasized that “we will witness a prisoner exchange in a short time, on our side everything is ready, while the US is currently working on the final technical coordination.” However, American officials denied the crisis, claiming that it was “false.” Despite the denial, officials at home White added that the US is committed to ensuring the release of the American prisoners in Iran.
At the same time, sources privy to the details said that “the logistics of how the transaction will take place are not resolved yet,” and according to him, Qatar and Switzerland were involved in the weekly exchange talks. Iranian sources told the Reuters news agency that two other countries were involved in the indirect talks between Iran and the US.
Biden (Photo: Reuters)
For many years, Iran has worked to free more than 12 Iranian prisoners who are held in US prisons, including seven prisoners with dual citizenship. Two other Iranians have permanent residency in the country, and four other Iranian citizens are without legal status in the US. Tehran, which holds dozens of foreign citizens with dual citizenship, has been accused many times of exploiting the detention of foreigners in order to pressure other countries. Iranian media reported last week that Tehran reached a two-week exchange deal with Washington, in exchange for the release of 7 billion dollars that were frozen following the sanctions of the Western countries.
Last October, the Persian news agency “Noor” reported that intensive talks were held between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, mediated by a regional country, for the release of the Iranian and American prisoners imprisoned in both countries. It was also reported that the agreement would include the thawing of Iranian assets worth billions of dollars , after the sanctions imposed by the USA were subsequently frozen.
According to the Persian news agency, 16 Iranian prisoners who were tried for federal crimes following the tensions between the countries, will be released in the agreement. At the same time, four American citizens held in the prisons of the Islamic Republic, after being tried for security offenses, will also be released. This, after the Americans claimed that the prisoners were being held as a bargaining chip for Tehran against Washington. In the meantime, a number of sources privy to the details said that the Iranian assets that will be frozen are located in different countries in the world, such as China, India, South Korea and Japan.