Five American detainees have been reported to have flown out of Iran as part of a prisoner swap agreement with Iran. Officials have confirmed, based on reports from news agencies, that the Americans departed Iran on Monday and are en route to Qatar. Simultaneously, $6 billion of Iran’s frozen funds have been unfrozen as part of this historic deal. It is important to note that five Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. were also slated for release as part of the arrangement.
Doha has been announced as the arrival destination for two of the five Iranian detainees recently released by the US, according to Iran’s Press TV. The two Iranians heading home are Mehrdad Moein Ansari and Reza Sarhangpour.
According to reports, all the five Iranians are now released
Though there has been no immediate confirmation from U.S. officials, this development comes after intense diplomatic efforts by both countries.
Earlier, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani emphasized during a news conference that Iran anticipated the funds, which had been frozen under U.S. sanctions and designated for humanitarian purposes, to be transferred from accounts in South Korea to accounts in Qatar.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had stated in advance that the Biden administration hoped for this transfer to occur “in the coming days.” The transfer not only includes the release of five Americans unjustly detained in Iran but also marks a significant step towards diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
Three of the Americans involved in the swap have been publicly identified as Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and Morad Tahbaz. They, along with an unnamed American, have been moved from Tehran’s Evin prison to house arrest, while another American woman, already under house arrest, is also part of the agreement.
Iran has identified five Iranian nationals it wishes to see released under this deal, further emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the arrangement. The individuals on the Iranian list include Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, Mehrdad Ansari, Amin Hasanzadeh, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, and Kambiz Attar Kashani. Some of these individuals are serving federal prison sentences, while others are on supervised pre-trial release.
The Iranian funds transferred to Qatar are expressly designated for humanitarian purposes. The Biden administration has rejected criticism that Iran may misuse the money for other purposes, asserting that there will be strict oversight to ensure that withdrawals are solely designated for approved transactions.
This development marks a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States and has the potential to reshape relations between the two nations.
(With inputs from VOA)
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