Officials say 5 prisoners sought by the US in a swap with Iran have flown out of Tehran

Officials have confirmed that five prisoners, sought by the United States in a swap agreement with Iran, have departed from Tehran. This development is part of a broader deal that has resulted in the unfreezing of nearly $6 billion in Iranian assets.

Despite this agreement, tensions between the United States and Iran are expected to persist, as both nations remain entangled in various disputes, notably concerning Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes, but recent actions have brought its uranium enrichment closer to the threshold of weapons-grade levels.

The planned prisoner exchange has unfolded amidst a substantial American military buildup in the Persian Gulf. There are concerns that U.S. troops may be tasked with boarding and safeguarding commercial ships in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil shipments pass.

Two individuals, including a senior official from the Biden administration, have disclosed that the prisoners left Tehran on Monday, though they requested anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the exchange.

In addition to the five American prisoners being released, two U.S. family members have also left Iran, according to the Biden administration official.

Flight-tracking data indicates that a Qatar Airways flight took off from Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport, a location used for previous exchanges. Iranian media released footage showing several of the former prisoners ascending the stairs to board the flight.

The plane is expected to land in Doha, Qatar. Meanwhile, Nour News, a website with ties to Iran’s security apparatus, reported that two of the Iranian prisoners involved in the swap had arrived in Doha.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani revealed that the exchange would occur once nearly $6 billion in previously frozen Iranian assets reached Qatar.

Regarding the prisoner swap, Kanaani stated, “Fortunately, Iran’s frozen assets in South Korea were released, and today the assets will start to be fully controlled by the government and the nation. On the subject of the prisoner swap, it will happen today, and five prisoners, citizens of the Islamic Republic, will be released from U.S. prisons. Five imprisoned citizens who were in Iran will be given to the U.S. side.”

He also noted that two of the Iranian prisoners would remain in the U.S.

Mohammad Reza Farzin, Iran’s Central Bank chief, later confirmed the receipt of over 5.5 billion euros (equivalent to $5.9 billion) in accounts in Qatar, slightly less than the originally anticipated $7 billion.

This exchange comes just before world leaders gather at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will address the assembly.

The deal has sparked criticism, particularly from Republicans, who argue that it indirectly bolsters the Iranian economy at a time when Iran is seen as posing a growing threat to U.S. troops and Middle Eastern allies. This could have implications for President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.

On the U.S. side, the planned swap includes individuals such as Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz, all of whom received lengthy prison sentences on charges that have drawn widespread criticism.

The five prisoners sought by Iran are primarily detained for allegedly attempting to export restricted materials to Iran, including dual-use electronics with potential military applications.

The exchange involves money owed to Iran by South Korea for oil purchases made before the U.S. imposed sanctions on such transactions in 2019. The U.S. asserts that the funds, once in Qatar, will be held in restricted accounts for humanitarian purposes, like medicine and food, which are currently allowed under American sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear program.

While Iranian officials have generally agreed with this explanation, some hardliners insist, without providing evidence, that there will be no restrictions on how Tehran can use the money.

Iran and the U.S. have a history of prisoner exchanges dating back to the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis. Their most recent major exchange occurred in 2016, following the nuclear deal that led to an easing of sanctions on Iran.

Accusations have been made that Iran uses foreign prisoners, particularly those with dual nationality, as bargaining tools, a claim Tehran denies.

Negotiations for a substantial prisoner exchange stalled after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal in 2018. Subsequently, a series of incidents and ship seizures attributed to Iran escalated tensions.

Moreover, Iran’s nuclear program has advanced significantly, raising concerns about regional stability. Israel, a nuclear-armed state, has expressed its determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, potentially increasing the risk of conflict. Iran has consistently asserted that its nuclear program is peaceful, a position supported by U.S. intelligence assessments.

In recent months, Iran has taken steps to address some issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, the progress in its nuclear program has prompted fears of broader regional conflict. Additionally, Israel has been implicated in targeted killings of Iran’s nuclear scientists.

Iran has also supplied Russia with drones designed to carry bombs, which Moscow has used in its conflict with Ukraine, creating another point of contention between Iran and the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Prisoner Exchange

More about Prisoner Exchange

• U.S.-Iran Prisoner Exchange
• Iran’s Nuclear Program
• Unfreezing Iranian Assets
• U.N. General Assembly
• U.S. Relations with Iran
• History of Iran-U.S. Prisoner Exchanges
• Israel’s Stance on Iran’s Nuclear Program