WASHINGTON — The US government is saying little following an unusually public Oct. 21 declaration by Iran’s Foreign Ministry that it is sending a list of names of Iranians being held in the United States for a possible “prisoner swap.” But behind the scenes, there are signs of movement in two cases of Iranians held by the United States that the Iranians have expressed interest in.

"The recovery of hostages held by the Islamic Republic of Iran is a top priority for the US Government," a State Department official, speaking not for attribution, told Al-Monitor by email Oct. 31, in response to a query on discussions on a possible prisoner swap or negotiations to get US detainees released. The White House referred questions on the issue to the State Department.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to host an event at the State Department on Monday afternoon on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover in Tehran, to which some of the families of Americans detained in Iran and their advocates have been invited, according to an invitation shared with Al-Monitor.

“We have handed over a list of names [to the United States] who must be freed,” Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told journalists in a briefing in Iran on Oct. 21. Mousavi said 20 Iranians are serving time in the United States under circumstances related to the circumvention of US sanctions against Iran.