Siamak Namasi/Neta Sharqi/Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malle
Among the Americans believed to have been involved in the deal were Siamak Namasi, Emat Sharqi and Morad Tahbas.
CNN
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Five Americans Imprisoned in Iran A partial release is expected on Monday A broader US-Iran dealIran’s foreign ministry spokesman said.
The US government has announced that five Americans have been wrongfully detained.
Speaking at a press conference shown on state-affiliated Press TV on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Khanani said the agreement would “hopefully be completed” along with other elements.
A Qatari jet is on standby in Iran to bring five Americans to Doha, a source briefed on the matter told CNN on Monday.
Under the agreement between the US and Iran, $6 billion in Iranian funds held in restricted accounts in South Korea will be transferred to restricted accounts in banks in Qatar. Qatar has notified Iranian and US authorities that the money was transferred from Switzerland to bank accounts in Qatar.
CNN said the funds came from oil sales allowed in accounts set up under the Trump administration. Biden administration officials have insisted that funds transferred to accounts in Qatar can only be used by Iran for humanitarian purchases and that each transaction is monitored by the US Treasury Department.
The deal also included the release of five Iranians in US custody.
The Americans’ release would represent a significant diplomatic breakthrough after complicated back-and-forth negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
The three who were publicly identified as part of the deal – Imad Sharqi, Morad Dahbas and Siamak Namasi – have all been jailed for more than five years. Namasi has been detained since 2015. The identities of the other two Americans are not publicly known.
This is a growing story. It will be updated…
