August 10, 2023 – 9:32 PM
After bilateral negotiations, the Iranian authorities transferred five US citizens convicted of espionage to house arrest BBC.
A lawyer for one of the men said that Siamak Namazi, Imad Sharqi, Murad Tahbazat, and a fourth unidentified companion had been released from prison. A US national security official announced that a fifth American has already been released. Among the participants are investment experts, businessmen and scholars.
“Of course we will not rest until they are all back in the States.”
he added. US websites wrote that the prisoner release talks are believed to be linked to talks aimed at giving the Tehran government access to the $6 billion frozen in South Korea under US sanctions. According to The New York Times Iranian nationals held in the US may be part of the deal, but the White House has yet to confirm what they have offered in exchange for the Americans.
Many family members expressed hope that their detained family members would be able to return home to the United States. Iran has detained and imprisoned a number of dual nationals in recent years, usually on national security charges. Reuters wrote, citing sources close to the negotiations, that it could take several weeks for US citizens to leave Iran.
