LAHORE MIRROR — The Central Bank of Iran’s Governor, Mohammad Reza Farzin, confirmed that Iran has received approximately 5.57 billion euros ($5.94 billion) in two Qatari banks as a result of funds unfrozen by the United States.
This development is part of a broader agreement that encompasses the release of Iranian assets previously frozen in South Korea. The deal was successfully negotiated in early August following months of diplomatic efforts.
The United States has revealed the identities of three out of the five Americans set to be released in this prisoner exchange with Iran. They include:
- Siamak Namazi, a businessman who was detained in 2015 and later sentenced to 10 years in prison on espionage charges.
- Emad Sharghi, a venture capitalist who also received a 10-year sentence.
- Morad Tahbaz, a British-American conservationist of Iranian descent arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years.
The fourth and fifth prisoners’ identities have not been disclosed by U.S. authorities.
During a press conference, Farzin stated that a total of 5,573 million euros have been deposited into six Iranian accounts held in two Qatari banks.
It is important to note that the United States has specified that Iran will not have direct access to these funds, which are earmarked strictly for humanitarian purposes.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, confirmed that the prisoner swap between both nations will be completed on the same day. He stated, “The prisoner exchange will take place on the same day, and five Iranian citizens imprisoned in America will be released.”
Kanaani further explained that two of the Iranian citizens will return to Iran, two will remain in the U.S., and the fifth will travel to a third country.
Reports suggest that the U.S. prisoners to be released include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other individuals whose identities have not been disclosed. They will be transported to Qatar later in the day.
Hours before the prisoner swap announcement, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi departed for New York to address the United Nations Assembly, where he is expected to hold a press conference, as reported by Iranian media.
It is worth noting that Iran has faced accusations of employing dual nationals and foreign prisoners as leverage in negotiating prisoner exchanges with other nations, a practice denounced as “hostage diplomacy” by several countries and human rights organizati
