Iran and the United States have made a deal, resulting in the release of five American prisoners into house arrest in Iran for $6bn frozen oil revenue still in talks.
According to US National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, “We have received confirmation that Iran has released from prison five Americans who were unjustly detained and has placed them on house arrest.”
“We will not rest until they are all back home in the United States,” she added, saying that the White House would have little more to say because “negotiations for their eventual release remain ongoing and are delicate”.
The release of the Americans comes in exchange for several incarcerated Iranians and eventual access to nearly $6bn in frozen Iranian oil revenue, according to the deal struck by the US and Iran.
The Iranian Americans allowed to leave the prison include businessmen Siamak Namazi, and Emad Shargi, as well as environmentalist Morad Tahbaz.
Tahbaz was detained in 2018, and he received a 10-year prison term for “assembly and collusion against Iran’s national security” and for spying on behalf of the US.
Shargi was sentenced to a decade behind bars in 2020 on spying charges.
Jared Genser, a lawyer who represents Namazi, said in a statement.
“The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to an expected house arrest is an important development.”
“While I hope this will be the first step to their ultimate release, this is at best the beginning of the end and nothing more.”
