A spokesman for the US National Security Council said today, Thursday, that the United States has obtained confirmation that Iran has released five American detainees from prison, but they are still under house arrest, and added that talks are underway for their final release.
In addition, the New York Times reported that the United States and Iran had reached an agreement to release 5 American prisoners in exchange for several Iranian prisoners, and to unfreeze about $6 billion in Iranian oil revenues, according to several people familiar with the deal.
The prisoners are Siamak Namazi, Imad Chergui and Mourad Tahbaz, who were all imprisoned on espionage charges, as well as two others whose families have withheld their names.
According to the source, one of the Americans, whose identity has not been revealed, is a scientist and the other a businessman, according to two people who were briefed on the release arrangements.
The newspaper revealed that the three aforementioned prisoners and one other person were transferred on Thursday from Evin Prison, one of the most notorious detention centers in Iran, to a hotel in the capital, Tehran, where they will be held for several weeks until they are allowed to board a plane.
In addition, another prisoner, an American, was released from house arrest at her home earlier, said Jared Genser, Namazi’s lawyer.
The price of the Iranian move
Biden administration officials refused to confirm details of what Iran would get in return. But people familiar with the agreement said that when Americans are allowed to return to the United States, the Biden administration will release a group of Iranian citizens who are serving prison sentences for violating sanctions on Iran.
The United States will also unfreeze nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets in South Korea and put the money into an account at Qatar’s central bank, according to people familiar with the deal.
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2023-08-10 17:39:07
