The Americans include Siamek Namazi, imprisoned for nearly eight years, and Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz. The two other Americans haven't been identified.
“On the subject of the prisoner swap, it will happen today and five prisoners, citizens of the Islamic Republic, will be released from the prisons in the U.S.,” Kanaani added. “Five imprisoned citizens who were in Iran will be given to the U.S. side reciprocally, based on their will. We expect these two issues fully take place based on the agreement.”Iranian news agencies immediately afterward reported, quoting Kanaani, that the prisoner swap would be done on Monday.
The planned swap has unfolded amid a major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf, with the possibility of U.S. troops boarding and guarding commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil shipments pass. The final dollar amount from Seoul could be anywhere between $6 billion to $7 billion, depending on exchange rates. The cash represents money South Korea owed Iran — but had not yet paid — for oil purchased before the Trump administration imposed sanctions on such transactions in 2019.
Iran and the U.S. have a history of prisoner swaps dating back to the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover and hostage crisis following the Islamic Revolution. Their most recent major exchange happened in 2016, when Iran came to a deal with world powers to restrict its nuclear program in return for an easing of sanctions.
Negotiations over a major prisoner swap faltered after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the nuclear deal in 2018. From the following year on, a series of attacks and ship seizures attributed to Iran have raised tensions.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Five Americans detained in Iran expected to be freed Monday, Iranian foreign ministry saysFive Americans who have been imprisoned in Iran are expected to be released Monday as part of a wider US-Iran deal, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has said.
Leer más »
5 Americans detained to be freed Monday under prisoner swap deal, Iran Foreign Ministry saysA senior Iranian official confirmed a prisoner swap with the United States would take place on Monday after $6 billion in frozen funds, key in the exchange, arrived in Qatar.
Leer más »
5 Americans detained in Iran to be freed Monday in prisoner swapThe five prisoners Iran has said it seeks are mostly held over allegedly trying to export material to Iran.
Leer más »
'We must unite': Iranian Americans in Utah protest oppression in IranIranian American protestors gathered at the Utah State Capitol on Saturday, speaking out against the Islamic Republic's killing of Iranian protesters and calling for the U.S. government to fight back.
Leer más »