Iran blames US for delay in prisoner swap deal
1 year, 10 months ago

Iran blames US for delay in prisoner swap deal

Al Jazeera  

It remains unclear whether an agreement can be finalised as Tehran maintains Washington is acting in bad faith. Tehran, Iran – Iran has blamed the United States for failing to reach an agreement over a prisoner swap deal amid reports that progress had been made after a lull of several months. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani on Monday told journalists that a deal was on the verge of being clinched through intermediaries at an unannounced time, “but then the US showed bad faith”. Kanani said the US views the prisoner exchange “as a tool in adjusting the behaviour of the Islamic Republic of Iran” in comments to state-linked Mehr news last week. “Iran unjustly detains citizens of the US and other countries around the world as an inexcusable tactic to gain political leverage, so for them to claim that the United States has somehow shown ‘bad faith’ in pursuing the release of our citizens is beyond the pale.” The spokesperson added that the US administration is “working tirelessly” to bring home American citizens detained in Iran, including Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and Morad Tahbaz.

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History of this topic

US and Iran negotiate rare prisoner swap as Washington releases $US6 billion in frozen assets
1 year, 3 months ago

US and Iran negotiate rare prisoner swap as Washington releases $US6 billion in frozen assets

ABC  

Five US citizens have left Iran and landed in Doha in a prisoner swap for five Iranians held in the United States, and the transfer of $US6 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Key points: 10 Iranian and US prisoners are being swapped in a rare deal between the two nations The US will also transfer $US6 billion to Iran as …

Iran Releases 5 U.S. Prisoners In Swap, Official Says
1 year, 3 months ago

Iran Releases 5 U.S. Prisoners In Swap, Official Says

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Five prisoners sought by the U.S. in a swap with Iran flew out of Tehran on Monday, an official said. Despite the deal, tensions are almost certain to remain high between the U.S. and Iran, which are locked in various disputes, including over Tehran’s nuclear program. via Associated Press Iranian Foreign Ministry …

Iran Hopes for Prisoner Swap with US on Monday as $6B Frozen Funds Access Looms
1 year, 3 months ago

Iran Hopes for Prisoner Swap with US on Monday as $6B Frozen Funds Access Looms

News 18  

Iran hopes that a prisoner swap with the United States will go ahead Monday, once Tehran gains access to $6 billion frozen by US ally South Korea, the Iranian foreign ministry said. Under the deal, which Washington and Tehran have previously confirmed, Iran would release five US citizens from detention and, Iran said, the United States would release five Iranians. …

US and Iran release prisoners after $6bn transfer
1 year, 3 months ago

US and Iran release prisoners after $6bn transfer

Al Jazeera  

Prisoner exchange includes five Iranians and five Americans, as $6bn in Iranian assets are unfrozen. ‘Grateful’ Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said the release of five American detainees by Tehran was “purely a humanitarian action”. “I am grateful to our partners at home and abroad for their tireless efforts to help us achieve this outcome, including the governments of Qatar, Oman, …

Iran-US prisoner swap under way
1 year, 3 months ago

Iran-US prisoner swap under way

Al Jazeera  

Five American and five Iranian prisoners are being released in addition to Iran’s assets frozen due to US sanctions. Tehran, Iran – Iran has released five American prisoners, moving them to Tehran’s airport for a flight to the Qatari capital, Doha, as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States. The funds were frozen for years in South Korea …

US-Iran prisoner swap ‘important first step’ but tensions remain: Analysts
1 year, 3 months ago

US-Iran prisoner swap ‘important first step’ but tensions remain: Analysts

Al Jazeera  

A major diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington remains unlikely before 2024 US election, experts say. Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran programme at the Middle East Institute think tank in Washington, DC, called the prisoner exchange a “transactional deal”. Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy think tank in Washington, DC, said while it remains …

A new Iran deal shows the Biden administration is willing to pay a big price to free Americans
1 year, 3 months ago

A new Iran deal shows the Biden administration is willing to pay a big price to free Americans

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — As the Biden administration heralds the forthcoming release of five U.S. citizens detained by Iran, President Joe Biden is also confronting questions about the price being paid to bring them — and other detainees — home. We have to make tough choices and engage in tough negotiations to bring these American citizens home.” Nonetheless, Republicans are accusing the …

US announces new Iran sanctions as prisoner swap looms
1 year, 3 months ago

US announces new Iran sanctions as prisoner swap looms

Al Jazeera  

Washington targets Iranian officials and state-linked media outlets on first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. “As we approach one year since Mahsa Amini’s tragic and senseless death in the custody of Iran’s so-called ‘Morality Police,’ we recall that the movement of men and women across Iran … was met with horrific violence,” US Treasury official Brian Nelson said in a …

Iran ready to implement prisoner swap deal with US, official says
1 year, 3 months ago

Iran ready to implement prisoner swap deal with US, official says

Al Jazeera  

Under the Qatar-mediated deal, five prisoners would be freed by each side and $6bn in Iranian assets would be released. Iran’s foreign minister has said his country is ready to implement a Qatar-mediated deal with the United States, under which Washington and Tehran each would free five prisoners and $6bn in Iranian assets held in South Korea would be released. …

Analysis: Iran-US prisoner swap for billions reveals familiar limits of diplomacy between nations
1 year, 3 months ago

Analysis: Iran-US prisoner swap for billions reveals familiar limits of diplomacy between nations

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — American captives could be exchanged for billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets, even as critics back in Washington warn against dealing with Tehran. In 1981, Iranian negotiator Behzad Nabavi described the deal freeing the Americans held as rubbing “in the dirt the nose of the world’s biggest oppressor and superpower, thus forcing it to …

US defends prisoner swap deal with Iran against Republican attacks
1 year, 3 months ago

US defends prisoner swap deal with Iran against Republican attacks

Al Jazeera  

Washington stresses that funds set to be unblocked to secure the release of detained Americans are Tehran’s own. Washington, DC – United States President Joe Biden’s administration has defended a looming prisoner swap deal with Iran against growing criticism from Republican legislators who say it will bolster the Iranian government. US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday …

What’s happening with the Iran-US prisoner swap deal?
1 year, 3 months ago

What’s happening with the Iran-US prisoner swap deal?

Al Jazeera  

Tehran and Washington are expected to exchange prisoners after Iran regains access to its blocked money. Tehran, Iran – A prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States looks like it’s on track, promising to release 10 people and billions of dollars of frozen assets. As part of the deal, five US prisoners held in Iran will be exchanged …

The US moves to advance a prisoner swap deal with Iran and release $6 billion in frozen funds
1 year, 3 months ago

The US moves to advance a prisoner swap deal with Iran and release $6 billion in frozen funds

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said “it’s …

U.S. moves to advance prisoner swap and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds
1 year, 3 months ago

U.S. moves to advance prisoner swap and release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds

LA Times  

The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. The transfer of the $6 billion was the critical element in the prisoner release deal, which saw …

US-Iran relations: Why did the prisoner exchange deal happen now?
1 year, 4 months ago

US-Iran relations: Why did the prisoner exchange deal happen now?

Al Jazeera  

Critics have argued that the US has given into Iranian blackmail by agreeing to a prisoner exchange deal. I’m not saying Iranian law is practised in an appropriate way, but since the US withdrew from the 2018 JCPOA nuclear deal and placed Iran under extraordinary sanctions and froze all its funds when Tehran had been complying with the deal, the …

US-Iran prisoner swap deal is ‘on track’, says White House official
1 year, 4 months ago

US-Iran prisoner swap deal is ‘on track’, says White House official

Al Jazeera  

Agreement is ‘proceeding’ but there is no exact timetable for swap, says US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has said that a prisoner swap deal between the United States and Iran is “on track”, less than two weeks after Tehran moved five detained US citizens to house arrest. But we believe that that …

Prisoner deal heralds Iran-US thaw, but no nuclear deal seen
1 year, 4 months ago

Prisoner deal heralds Iran-US thaw, but no nuclear deal seen

Raw Story  

Two and a half years into Joe Biden's presidency, and after exhaustive diplomacy with Iran's clerical leadership, his administration has reached a first deal -- to free five detained Americans. European-led talks collapsed last year on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal, which constrained Iran's contested program in return for promises of sanctions relief but was trashed by former president Donald …

US-Iran tentative agreement on prisoners and frozen funds: Deal explained
1 year, 4 months ago

US-Iran tentative agreement on prisoners and frozen funds: Deal explained

Hindustan Times  

The United States and Iran reached a tentative agreement this week that will eventually see five detained Americans in Iran and an unknown number of Iranians imprisoned in the U.S. released from custody after billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets are transferred from banks in South Korea to Qatar. The complex deal — which came together after months of …

‘Important step’: What we know about tentative US-Iran prisoner deal
1 year, 4 months ago

‘Important step’: What we know about tentative US-Iran prisoner deal

Al Jazeera  

More details have slowly begun to emerge of a tentative deal that would see the United States and Iran engage in a prisoner swap in exchange for giving the Iranian government access to billions of dollars in frozen funds. On Friday, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the “process of releasing several billion dollars of Iranian …

Iran transfers 5 Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest in step toward deal for full release
1 year, 5 months ago

Iran transfers 5 Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest in step toward deal for full release

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran has moved five Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest in exchange for billions of dollars frozen in South Korea, U.S. and Iranian officials said Thursday, as part of a tentative deal that follows months of heightened tensions between the two countries. Iran, meanwhile, has said it seeks the release of Iranian prisoners held in …

Iran says 'everything ready' for prisoner swap, US denies
1 year, 9 months ago

Iran says 'everything ready' for prisoner swap, US denies

Hindustan Times  

Iran and the United States have reached an agreement to exchange prisoners, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state TV on Sunday, but Washington denied it as a "false" claim by Tehran. A White House official denied Amirabdollahian's statement about the prisoner swap with Washington, adding that the United States was committed to securing the release of Americans held in …

Iran signals US prisoner exchange could be close
1 year, 9 months ago

Iran signals US prisoner exchange could be close

Al Jazeera  

US official denies claims by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that an initial deal has been reached. Tehran, Iran – Iran’s foreign minister has signalled that an exchange of prisoners with the United States could happen soon after he said an initial agreement has been reached on the long-standing issue, however a US official dismissed the claims as false. The …

Where does the Iran nuclear deal stand right now?
1 year, 10 months ago

Where does the Iran nuclear deal stand right now?

Al Jazeera  

With a lot of ups and downs, there were numerous reports of near breakdowns in talks or imminent deals throughout last year. Tehran, Iran – There is a lot of talk about Tehran allegedly enriching uranium particles to near weapons-grade levels and simultaneous calls to lift sanctions amid attempts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. With President Joe Biden …

US and Iran in indirect talks on prisoner swap deal: Report
1 year, 10 months ago

US and Iran in indirect talks on prisoner swap deal: Report

Al Jazeera  

Qatar and UK are acting as intermediaries to secure agreement to release Americans jailed in Iran, NBC News reports. The United States and Iran are in indirect negotiations to secure a possible prisoner exchange, with Qatar and the United Kingdom acting as intermediaries, NBC News has reported, citing four unidentified sources. “What is not sensitive and what I repeat just …

UPDATE 4-Iran says nuclear talks make significant progress
2 years, 10 months ago

UPDATE 4-Iran says nuclear talks make significant progress

The Hindu  

Talks in Vienna on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers have made “significant progress”, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday. Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington have been held in Vienna since April last year amid fears about Tehran’s nuclear advances, seen by Western powers as irreversible unless agreement is struck soon. Mr. …

Germany sees ‘moment of truth’ for Iran nuclear talks
2 years, 10 months ago

Germany sees ‘moment of truth’ for Iran nuclear talks

Al Jazeera  

German chancellor says there is now an opportunity for a deal to be reached and sanctions lifted, while Iran says ‘never been this close to a deal’. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday “now is the moment of truth” to determine whether Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers can be salvaged, and the Iranian leadership needs to make …

Nuclear deal unlikely unless Iran releases US prisoners: Report
2 years, 11 months ago

Nuclear deal unlikely unless Iran releases US prisoners: Report

Al Jazeera  

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley tells the Reuters news agency agreement ‘hard to imagine’ while four ‘innocent Americans held hostage’. The United States is unlikely to strike a deal with Iran to save the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement unless Tehran releases four US citizens Washington says it is holding hostage, the lead US nuclear negotiator told the Reuters …

Nobody said making a nuclear deal with Iran would be easy
3 years, 1 month ago

Nobody said making a nuclear deal with Iran would be easy

LA Times  

Diplomats from Iran, the United States and five other powers gathered in Vienna last week to try to revive President Obama’s 2015 deal limiting Tehran’s nuclear activities. Iran’s new hard-line government showed up with maximalist demands, insisting the United States lift all its economic sanctions before Tehran takes any steps toward curbing its uranium enrichment. Under the deal, Iran’s “breakout …

Iran backtracks on plans to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe
3 years, 5 months ago

Iran backtracks on plans to release Zaghari-Ratcliffe

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Efforts to release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe …

After US denied deal, Iran says prisoner swap talks ongoing
3 years, 5 months ago

After US denied deal, Iran says prisoner swap talks ongoing

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s government spokesman said Tuesday that talks with the United States about a prisoner exchange are still ongoing, two months after Washington denied an Iranian report that deals had been struck. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday that “indirect but active” talks with Iran over prisoners have been going on for some time — and pre-date …

Nuclear deal possible if Iran makes political decision: US
3 years, 8 months ago

Nuclear deal possible if Iran makes political decision: US

Al Jazeera  

Agreement could be reached within weeks on a path for Washington and Tehran to resume compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal if Iran makes a political decision to do so, a senior US State Department official said. The US official said it is “absolutely” possible to revive a nuclear deal before Iran’s June 18 elections but put the onus …

US officials in Mideast to reassure jittery allies over Iran
3 years, 8 months ago

US officials in Mideast to reassure jittery allies over Iran

Associated Press  

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Top Biden administration officials and U.S. senators crisscrossed the Middle East on Monday, seeking to assuage growing unease among Gulf Arab partners over America’s re-engagement with Iran and other policy shifts in the region. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a key Biden ally dispatched on overseas diplomatic missions, told reporters in the UAE’s capital of …

US denies Iran claims of prisoner deal; UK plays it down
3 years, 8 months ago

US denies Iran claims of prisoner deal; UK plays it down

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran are in active talks over the release of prisoners, a person familiar with the discussions said Sunday as Washington denied a report by Iranian state-run television that deals had been struck. “Some sources say four Iranian prisoners are to be released and $7 billion are to be received by Iran in exchange for …

Iran foreign ministry denies US hostage swap imminent
3 years, 8 months ago

Iran foreign ministry denies US hostage swap imminent

Al Jazeera  

Contradictory statements may be the latest example of clashes between political factions as Iran’s presidential elections loom. Tehran, Iran – Iran’s foreign ministry says a state television report on prisoner swaps with the United States cannot be confirmed as a political rift widens ahead of presidential elections in June. Contradictory reports The latest hardline-controlled state TV report comes as a …

US denies Iran state media report saying prisoner swap agreed
3 years, 8 months ago

US denies Iran state media report saying prisoner swap agreed

Al Jazeera  

Meanwhile, UK downplays Iranian state TV report on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s possible release from prison. The state TV report, quoting the unnamed Iranian official, also said British-Iranian national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe would be released once Britain had paid off a debt on military equipment owed to Tehran. There is no agreement to release these four Americans.” pic.twitter.com/aLIrHlEneg — Face The Nation May …

Iran wants nationals freed from US jails amid nuclear talks
3 years, 8 months ago

Iran wants nationals freed from US jails amid nuclear talks

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said Tuesday it was seeking the release of all Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. amid talks in Vienna meant to bring Tehran and Washington back into the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei also hinted that another exchange of prisoners between Iran and America was possible, saying that “the idea …

Citing coronavirus fear, Iran says it's ready for prisoner swap with US
4 years, 7 months ago

Citing coronavirus fear, Iran says it's ready for prisoner swap with US

India Today  

Iran said it is ready for unconditional prisoner swap talks with the United States because of fears that the coronavirus could put the lives of the prisoners at risk, Iranian media reported on Sunday. Rabiei said Iran considers the US government responsible for the health of the Iranian prisoners, adding that "it seems that the US has more readiness to …

U.S. hits Iran with new sanctions, hopes for prisoner dialogue
5 years ago

U.S. hits Iran with new sanctions, hopes for prisoner dialogue

The Hindu  

The Trump administration on Wednesday hit Iran with new sanctions that target several transportation firms as it continues its “maximum pressure campaign” against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran’s U.N. Mission, tweeted later Wednesday- “These sanctions are directly targeting ordinary Iranians’ livelihood, but they will not be cowed by pressures …

Iran ready for more prisoner swaps with US, not negotiations
5 years, 1 month ago

Iran ready for more prisoner swaps with US, not negotiations

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran is ready for more prisoner swaps with the United States, the Cabinet spokesman said Monday even as he reiterated the Iranian leadership’s stance that there will be no other negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Rabiei said any further negotiations would be possible through the so-called 5+1 framework — a reference to the five permanent U.N. Security …

Iran sends US list of names for its proposed prisoner swap
5 years, 2 months ago

Iran sends US list of names for its proposed prisoner swap

Associated Press  

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday it has sent the United States a list of names it is demanding in a proposed prisoner swap, opening a potential new channel with Washington amid recent growing tensions. Iran did not detail the names it relayed, but Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he hoped to hear soon “good news” about …

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