Summary:
- Iran and the U.S. have agreed to release five prisoners each in a historic deal.
- $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds will be transferred as part of the agreement.
- The prisoner swap was negotiated for several months and finalized on September 18th.
- Among the released Americans is Siamic Namazi, who has been imprisoned for almost eight years on espionage charges.
- The five released Iranians were described as low-level criminals, with three declining to return to Iran.
Iran and the U.S. have reached a historic deal to free five prisoners each and transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds. The agreement, announced on September 18th, comes after months of negotiations and is seen as a groundbreaking moment for the two countries.
Iran and U.S. Prisoner Release: A Groundbreaking Moment
Introduction
In a breakthrough deal announced on September 18th, Iran and the U.S. agreed to each free five prisoners. The release also involves a transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds that South Korea owed Iran but had not yet paid because of U.S. imposed sanctions. The prisoner swap was negotiated over several months and announced on August 10th, but the final pieces came together weeks later.
Longest Duration of Imprisonment
It's a groundbreaking moment for the two countries. There remain odds over a number of issues, including Tehran's nuclear program. It's cracked down on internal dissent and its ongoing military support for Russia. For the families of the freed U.S. prisoners, it's a major relief. Iranian-American Siamic Namazi has been behind bars for nearly eight years. It's reportedly the longest duration the Islamic Republic has jailed any American. He was arrested in 2015 for what U.S. officials say are trumped-up espionage charges.
Other Americans Released
Other Americans who were freed include Morad Tabaaz, Ahmad Sharjee, and two others who have not yet been publicly identified. The five released Iranians were described by U.S. officials as low-level, nonviolent criminals. Three declined to return to Iran, while two will remain in the U.S. The U.S. and Iran have a history of swapping prisoners, dating back to the 1979 U.S. Embassy Takeover by Iran in the ensuing hostage crisis following the Iranian Revolution.
Treatment of Prisoners in Iran
Every now and then, Iran picks up dual or foreign nationals on Iranian soil and accuses them of bogus charges or allegations of espionage. They parade them on state television and force confessions where they're forced to say that they've done something wrong. These individuals are often portrayed as spies when they have no connection to espionage activities. They are pawns used for leverage.
Opposition and Distrust
Republicans in Congress opposed any deal that involved the unfreezing of Iranian funds and pressed the Biden administration to negotiate a better deal for the U.S. Despite the prisoner swap, distrust will likely remain high between the adversaries. There's been no signs that the prisoner swap will resurrect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the U.S. withdrew from in 2018.
Winners and Regime's Perspective
The initial winners are the Americans who were able to come home. However, the regime in Iran may see this as a win for themselves, potentially using the deal to claim that the West and the United States don't care about the Iranian people and their protests.
Despite the prisoner swap, it is unlikely to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the U.S. withdrew from in 2018. The release of the prisoners brings relief to their families, but trust between Iran and the U.S. remains low.