Five American citizens imprisoned in Iran under the prisoner exchange agreement with Iran have arrived in Doha after their release.
According to the British news agency Reuters, in exchange for the release of the American citizens, five Iranian citizens imprisoned in the United States have been released, and six billion dollars of Iran frozen in South Korea have also been transferred to Qatar.
US President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday that the five innocent citizens detained there after the agreement was reached with Iran are finally returning home and will be reunited with their loved ones very soon.
The US president thanked the governments of Qatar, Oman, Switzerland, and South Korea for helping to free the Americans.
“My special thanks go to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, and the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, who helped facilitate this agreement during months of difficult and principled US diplomacy,” he said. ‘
A plane sent by the Qatari mediator, carrying five American citizens. And two of their relatives, diverted from Tehran to Doha after both sides confirmed. That Iran’s frozen funds were transfer to an account in Doha.
An eyewitness saw the plane carrying the Americans landing at Doha Airport.
As soon as the American citizens land at Doha Airport. They were receive by the American authorities.
Switzerland’s ambassador to Iran flew to Doha with the released American citizens.
Two of the five Iranian nationals released earlier had arrived in Doha from the United States. According to a US official, the three released Iranians decided not to go to Iran and to stay in the US.
Reuters reported that a deal to hand over five American prisoners would be implement on Monday after Iran unfroze $6 billion in funds following months of negotiations brokered by Qatar.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasir Kanani, said that funds frozen in South Korea will be hand over to Iran on Monday. And five American citizens detaine in Iran will be exchange for five Iranians imprison in the United States.
Five American citizens with dual citizenship who arrived in Qatar. After being release will leave for the United States from there.
The prisoner exchange deal, first made public on August 10, will ease the ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
On the other hand, South Korea’s foreign ministry said that it is working with the parties to ensure progress on the agreement and resolve the issue.
According to the details, the Americans to be release include dual citizens Siamak Namazi, 51. And Imad Sharqi, 59, both businessmen, while 67-year-old environmentalist Murad Tehbaz also holds British citizenship. He was release from jail last month and placed under house arrest.
A fourth US citizen was also place under house arrest, while another US citizen. Whose identity has not been release, was also under house arrest.
Iranian authorities have named the five Iranians to be release by the United States. As Mehrdad Moin Ansari, Qambeez Attar Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, Amin Hassanzadeh, and Qaveeh Afrasiabi.
Washington lifted sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds. From South Korea to Qatar as an initial step in the deal.
These funds were freez in South Korea due to US sanctions. It has been report that South Korea is one of the biggest consumers of Iranian oil in general.
Doha has agree to monitor the deal, with Iran ensuring that unfrozen funds are spend on food and medicine.
Iran’s transfer of funds has been criticize by US Republicans.
Republicans say U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is actually paying a ransom for American citizens. While the White House has defended the prisoner exchange deal.
[…] Prisoner exchange: Five freed Americans arrive in Qatar from Iran […]