- Oct 17, 2011
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Following intense, secret negotiations, Iran on Thursday moved four U.S. citizens from prison and placed them under house arrest, in what U.S. officials hope will lead to their eventual release from Iran, the Biden administration said.
A fifth American had already been transferred to house arrest and will become part of the group as negotiations continue, people familiar with the negotiations said. They are being kept at a hotel under guard, a lawyer representing one of the Americans said.
“While this is an encouraging step, these U.S. citizens — Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two Americans who at this time wish to remain private — should have never been detained in the first place.” [NSC spokeswoman]
[Part of the exchange appears to be that] Iran will eventually get access to the equivalent of about $6 billion in [its own] frozen assets held by South Korea, but with restrictions that the money be spent only on humanitarian-related materials, the sources said. The Biden administration is also considering releasing an undisclosed number of Iranian prisoners once the U.S. citizens are home.
U.S. negotiators worked through Swiss, Omani and Qatar officials to reach the agreement. Iran and the United States do not have diplomatic relations. Full freedom for the Americans may yet be a long way off, the people familiar cautioned.
The president secured the release of human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, who was held in Rwanda, in March.
But several Americans are still being held abroad, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia in late March on espionage charges. Gershkovich has denied the charges and the U.S. has determined him to be wrongfully detained.
A fifth American had already been transferred to house arrest and will become part of the group as negotiations continue, people familiar with the negotiations said. They are being kept at a hotel under guard, a lawyer representing one of the Americans said.
“While this is an encouraging step, these U.S. citizens — Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two Americans who at this time wish to remain private — should have never been detained in the first place.” [NSC spokeswoman]
[Part of the exchange appears to be that] Iran will eventually get access to the equivalent of about $6 billion in [its own] frozen assets held by South Korea, but with restrictions that the money be spent only on humanitarian-related materials, the sources said. The Biden administration is also considering releasing an undisclosed number of Iranian prisoners once the U.S. citizens are home.
U.S. negotiators worked through Swiss, Omani and Qatar officials to reach the agreement. Iran and the United States do not have diplomatic relations. Full freedom for the Americans may yet be a long way off, the people familiar cautioned.
The president secured the release of human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina, who was held in Rwanda, in March.
But several Americans are still being held abroad, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia in late March on espionage charges. Gershkovich has denied the charges and the U.S. has determined him to be wrongfully detained.
