DOHA: Five American citizens departed from Doha to the United States on Monday after arriving in Qatar from Iran as part of a prisoner exchange for five Iranians detained in the United States and the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds. This unusual agreement was reached between the long-standing adversaries.
US President Joe Biden expressed, “Today, five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home.” He added that they “will soon be reunited with their loved ones—after enduring years of agony, uncertainty, and suffering.”
The potential impact of this exchange on the various issues dividing the two nations, such as Iran’s nuclear program, its support for regional Shiite militias, the presence of US troops in the Gulf, and US sanctions on Iran, remains uncertain.
A plane provided by mediator Qatar transported the five US citizens and two of their family members out of Tehran after both sides confirmed the transfer of funds to accounts in Doha, according to a source briefed on the matter who spoke to Reuters.
A Reuters witness observed the plane landing at Doha International Airport. US officials received the five Americans upon their arrival in Doha, as reported by the Reuters witness. Switzerland’s ambassador to Iran accompanied them on the flight to Doha.
Earlier, two of the five Iranians arrived in Qatar, according to a US official. Three of them chose not to return to Iran.
The five Iranian Americans, one of whom had been detained for approximately eight years on charges rejected by the United States as unfounded, were scheduled to board a US government aircraft in Doha and subsequently travel to the United States.
Following months of negotiations in Qatar, this deal removes a significant point of contention between the US, which designates Tehran as a sponsor of terrorism, and Iran, which refers to Washington as the “Great Satan.”
A senior US administration official clarified that the deal does not alter Washington’s adversarial relationship with Tehran but leaves the door open for diplomacy regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The official remarked, “If we see an opportunity, we will explore it, but right now, I have nothing to discuss.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Among the released US dual citizens are Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Sharqi, 59, both businessmen, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, an environmentalist who also holds British nationality. They were released from prison and placed under house arrest last month.
A fourth US citizen was also placed under house arrest, while a fifth was already under house arrest. Their identities have not been disclosed.
Iranian officials have identified the five Iranians released by the US as Mehrdad Moin-Ansari, Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour-Kafrani, Amin Hassanzadeh, and Kaveh Afrasiabi. Two Iranian officials previously mentioned that Afrasiabi would remain in the United States but did not mention the fate of the others.
Source: Reuters