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Iran has released five US citizens as part of a prisoner swap. They were aboard a plane en route from Tehran to Qatar, a senior US government official said on Monday. Two relatives of those previously detained in Iran and subject to a travel ban by Iran were also on board the plane.
In return, the US will pardon five Iranians convicted or charged of “non-violent crimes.” Iran will also have access to approximately $6 billion from its own assets; the money had been frozen in South Korea due to international sanctions.
Oman and Qatar with mediating role
The prisoner exchange had been prepared for months. According to the White House, Oman and Qatar in particular played an important role in the negotiations. In early August, Iran released the now released Americans and placed them under house arrest in a hotel in the capital Tehran.
One of the best known among them is businessman Siamak Namasi, who has dual American and Iranian citizenship. He was jailed in 2015 and sentenced to ten years in prison for espionage.
In 2018, environmental activist Morad Tahbas and businessman Emad Shargi were arrested. The identities of the other two Americans who have since been released were initially unknown.
Iranian captured for industrial espionage
As part of the agreement, the US judiciary in turn released five convicted Iranians who, among other things, reportedly tried to circumvent international sanctions in the US.
An Iranian was also accused of industrial espionage. Another allegedly violated a law requiring “foreign representatives” to register in the US.
According to Tehran and Washington, the money that Iran should now have access to has been exchanged for euros by South Korea in several tranches and transferred to Qatar.
This is intended to allow the Islamic Republic to purchase goods under supervision that are not subject to sanctions. The punitive measures cut Iran off from global payment transactions. (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
