Five Americans Imprisoned in Iran Placed Under House Arrest in Potential First Step Toward Prisoner Exchange with U.S.

Five Americans imprisoned in Iran have been placed under house arrest, according to a lawyer for one of the prisoners. This move is seen as a potential first step in a prisoner exchange between Tehran and Washington, which would include the release of roughly $6 billion in Iranian government assets blocked under U.S. sanctions.

The proposed agreement would allow Iran to access the funds only to buy food, medicine or other humanitarian purposes, in accordance with existing U.S. sanctions against the country. It remains unclear whether the Iranian-Americans’ transfers reflect significant progress in a possible prisoner swap between the two countries.

A major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf is also underway, with the possibility of armed U.S. troops boarding and guarding commercial ships traveling through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Talks between the two countries are believed to be taking place with the help of a mediator.

Under the agreement, Qatar’s central bank will oversee the funds. The deal has been under negotiation for months, and it is unclear if the prisoner exchange will go through. If it does, it will mark a major diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries.