BREAKING: Iran Releases Five US Citizens in Prisoner Swap
Five American citizens, who had been imprisoned in Iran for several years, have been released and are on their way back to the United States, Excel Magazine International reports.
The release on Monday was part of a complex prisoner exchange arrangement, with Qatar playing a crucial mediating role.
Excel Magazine International further learnt that the group of five, consisting of four men and one woman, all of whom also held Iranian passports, arrived safely in Qatar after departing from the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Their freedom was contingent on the transfer of a staggering $6 billion in Iranian funds, proceeds from oil sales to South Korea, to banks in Doha.
In a reciprocal gesture, five Iranians detained in the United States were also slated to be set free, with two of them already landing in Doha, according to Iran’s Press TV.
The release of these American citizens has been a focal point of US President Joe Biden’s administration, as they were widely perceived as hostages used by Iran for diplomatic leverage. While this development marks a significant achievement for the Biden administration, it has not been without controversy.
Leading US Republicans and Iranian activists have voiced concerns, arguing that such swaps could incentivize further hostage-taking incidents in the future.
However, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who played a pivotal role in these negotiations, expressed his emotions upon the prisoners’ release.
He had an emotional conversation with the group after their arrival in Qatar and remarked, “It’s a day that I’m grateful for,” adding that the prisoners’ freedom means that “husbands and wives, fathers and children, grandparents can hug each other again”.
Blinken also extended his gratitude to international allies who contributed to securing the freedom of these American citizens, emphasizing that this moment allowed families to reunite after years of separation.
