The United States and Iran on Monday carried out a high-stakes prisoner swap that included freeing five Americans the US government says were unjustly
The United States and Iran on Monday carried out a high-stakes prisoner swap that included freeing five Americans the U.S. government says were unjustly detained by the Tehran government.
Three of the Americans in the swap were identified as Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, who along with the other two Americans were under house arrest pending their release. The identity of the other two individuals remained private at their families’ request.
Who Are the US Detainees Released in Prisoner Swap With Iran?
U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement the five individuals would « soon be reunited with their loved ones-after enduring years of agony, uncertainty, and suffering. » He thanked the governments of Qatar, Oman, South Korea and Switzerland « for their tireless efforts to help us achieve this outcome. »
Senior Biden administration officials told reporters the logistics of the swap involved a Qatari plane traveling from Iran to Doha carrying the five freed Americans, accompanied on the flight by Namazi’s mother and Tahbaz’s wife, who had been prevented from leaving Iran.
From Doha, the group was due to fly to Washington to be reunited with their families. The officials said all would have access to recovery and reintegration services offered by the U.S. Defense Department.
US citizens Siamak Namazi (R-back), Emad Sharqi (L) and Morad Tahbaz (C) disembark from a Qatari jet upon their arrival at the Doha International Airport in Doha on Sept. 18, 2023.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration, in its 2½ years in office, has now secured the release of more than 30 wrongfully detained Americans around the world and is working to free others.
