Biden to Pay $6B Ransom for 5 American Hostages
Iran Transfers American Prisoners to House Arrest Amid Possible Prisoner Swap
Iran has recently moved five Iranian-Americans from prison to house arrest, according to U.S. officials. This development comes as Tehran has hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange with the United States in exchange for billions of dollars frozen in South Korea. However, Iran has not yet acknowledged this move.
The potential for a complex multinational deal arises amidst heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. The U.S. has initiated a significant military buildup in the Persian Gulf, with the potential deployment of armed troops to board and protect commercial ships passing through the vital Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20 percent of global oil trade.
While the transfers of the Iranian-Americans offer some hope, it remains uncertain whether they will be able to return home. Iran has previously exaggerated progress in talks, likely facilitated by Oman and Qatar, regarding a potential trade.
Earlier this year, the U.S. dismissed Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian’s claims of an imminent swap deal as a “cruel lie.”
Among the transferred prisoners are Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz, as identified by U.S.-based lawyer Jared Genser. The identities of the other two prisoners have not been disclosed. It is expected that the five individuals will be held under guard at a hotel until their possible departure from Iran.
“The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to an expected house arrest is an important development,” said Genser. “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. But there are simply no guarantees about what happens from here.”
Neda Sharghi, the sister of Emad Sharghi, also acknowledged the transfer and expressed faith in the efforts of President Biden and government officials to bring their families home.
Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council, confirmed the prisoners’ move to house arrest and described the negotiations for their release as “ongoing” and delicate.
“While this is an encouraging step, these U.S. citizens… should have never been detained in the first place,” Watson stated. “We will continue to monitor their condition as closely as possible. Of course, we will not rest until they are all back home in the United States.”
The exact number of Iranian-Americans held by Tehran, which does not recognize dual citizenship, remains unknown.
The three released prisoners identified by Genser are Namazi, who was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison on spying charges; Sharghi, a venture capitalist also sentenced to 10 years in prison; and Tahbaz, a British-American conservationist of Iranian descent who was arrested in 2018 and received a 10-year sentence.
Iran has expressed its desire for the release of Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. as part of any potential deal.
It is important to note that Iran has faced international criticism for its treatment of dual nationals during periods of heightened tensions. The West accuses Iran of using foreign prisoners as bargaining chips in political negotiations, a claim that Tehran denies.
The success of any potential deal and its impact on President Biden, who is currently overseeing the Persian Gulf buildup, remains uncertain. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama faced criticism from Republicans for a similar prisoner swap, although he was nearing the end of his second term. Biden, on the other hand, may face re-election in November 2024.
Despite the announcement of the transfers, critics of diplomacy with Iran have raised concerns about the potential deal.
“Paying $6 billion in ransom payments means the regime will only take more hostages,” warned Mark Dubowitz of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “This has become a lucrative means of international extortion for Iran’s supreme leader.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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