In what the Donald Trump administration has avoided framing as a prisoner swap but came the same day an Iranian-American doctor was released in the United States, Navy veteran Michael White was freed from Iranian custody Thursday. Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who played a key role in the negotiations, says the timing was no coincidence.
“It may not necessarily be a prisoner swap per se, but it’s a joint humanitarian effort on both sides that is not concurrent,” Richardson told Al-Monitor. “It shows hopefully the possibility of more joint releases like this.”
