Zarif says Iran open to more prisoner exchanges
Iran says it is ready for more prisoner exchanges with the United States via Swiss mediation.
In an interview with Sputnik, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the country is open to more prisoner exchanges.
Zarif said Iran is prepared to exchange prisoners that are either held in the United States or are being held in other countries due to US pressure for dual-national prisoners being held in Iran. He said Iran currently does not have any sole US nationals.
Zarif was quick to add that Iran is not interested in direct talks with the United States on this issue and would continue the negotiations on prisoner exchanges via the Swiss.
Iran is currently holding a number of dual nationals, including Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and his father, Mohammad Bagher Namazi. Siamak was arrested in 2015 and is now one of the longest-held dual nationals in Iran. His father traveled to Iran after his arrest and was also arrested and imprisoned. Another dual national being held in Iran is Iranian-American businessman Morad Tahbaz, who was arrested in 2018. In return for dual Iranian-American citizens, Iran wants the exchange of individuals who have been arrested either by the United States or in Europe due to US pressure for violating sanctions on Iran.
