The State Department did not confirm the possibility of a prisoner exchange with Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that Tehran and Washington “have reached an agreement in recent days on a prisoner exchange” that could take place “in the near future.” State Department spokesman Ned Price denied this. Three US citizens are now in Iranian custody – Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and Siamak Namazi. About 15 Iranian citizens have been arrested in the United States, accused of trying to circumvent sanctions.

Mr. Price called the statement of the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry “another particularly cruel lie that only exacerbates the suffering of the families” of the detained Americans. “We are working tirelessly to release three illegally detained Americans in Iran. “We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones,” he told the agency. AP.

The US National Security Council also called Iran’s claims false. “Unfortunately, Iranian officials do not hesitate to lie, and their latest cruel statement will cause even more heartache for the families of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz,” the council said in a statement.

A prisoner exchange between the two countries has been discussed since 2021. The media then wrote that it was also possible for the US authorities to unfreeze $ 7 billion of Iranian funds.

Laura Keffer