Five Americans to be Freed in Prisoner Exchange with Iran

Summary:

• The U.S. has agreed to release five Iranian prisoners and unfreeze six billion in Iranian oil revenue under U.S. sanctions in South Korea in exchange for the release of five Americans imprisoned in Iran for years.
• The released prisoners include Siamak Namazi, who has been in prison for nearly eight years, as well as Daman Shargi and Marad Tabas. The identities of the other two prisoners have not been revealed.
• The prisoner exchange follows more than a year of secretive talks between the two countries through mediators.
• The exchange will involve a carefully choreographed set of steps in which the transfer of the unfrozen revenue will be confirmed before the prisoners are exchanged, and the two groups of prisoners will be released separately.
• The Biden administration insists that Iran can only use the unfrozen revenue on humanitarian goods with U.S. approval, while Iranian President Raisi disputes this, saying that "humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need."
• It is unclear where the released detainees will go next, but they are likely to undergo extensive medical evaluations organized by the U.S. government.
• Republican lawmakers have criticized the exchange as a ransom payment, while the Biden administration insists that it was a diplomatic solution to a long-standing problem.

Five Americans imprisoned in Iran for years are set to be freed in exchange for the release of five Iranian prisoners and the unfreezing of six billion in Iranian oil revenue under U.S. sanctions in South Korea. The prisoners include Siamak Namazi, imprisoned for nearly eight years, and Daman Shargi and Marad Tabas. The deal comes after more than a year of secretive talks through mediators.

Five Americans imprisoned in Iran to be released in exchange deal

After years of imprisonment in Iran, five Americans are set to be freed in a high-stakes deal. The United States has agreed to release five Iranian prisoners, and to unfreeze six billion dollars in Iranian oil revenue under U.S. sanctions in South Korea in exchange. The Americans to be released are Siamak Namazi, who has been imprisoned for almost eight years, as well as Daman Shargi and Marad Tabas. The identities of the other two Americans have not been revealed.

Secretive talks pave the way for the swap

The deal follows more than a year of secretive talks through mediators, much of it taking place in Qatar. Two diplomats have told NBC News that the Iranians and Americans never came face to face throughout the discussions. Instead, the swap has been carefully choreographed, with each step outlined in advance. The first step involves the Iranians confirming that the six billion dollars has been transferred from South Korea to Qatari banks via Switzerland.

Details of the swap

Once this confirmation has been received, the American detainees will be flown for roughly two hours from Iran to Qatar. The Iranian detainees will be released separately in the U.S., though it is currently unclear where they will go next. The Biden administration has insisted that Iran can only spend the six billion dollars on humanitarian goods, such as food and medicine, with U.S. officials approving each transaction. However, Iran's President Raisi has disputed this, stating that "humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need."

Reactions to the deal

President Raisi has stated that the imprisoned Americans were treated humanely during their confinement. The deal has been criticized by Republicans, who accuse President Biden of making a ransom payment. They argue that Iran is unlikely to release the American citizens "out of the goodness of their hearts."

What's next for the freed Americans?

It is currently unknown what will happen to the five Americans once they are released. However, it is likely that they will undergo extensive medical evaluations organized by the U.S. government, as is often the case for released prisoners.

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It remains unclear where the released detainees will go next, but they are likely to undergo extensive medical evaluations organized by the U.S. government. Republican lawmakers have criticized the exchange as a ransom payment, while the Biden administration insists that Iran can only use the unfrozen revenue for humanitarian purposes.