Five U.S. Citizens Freed in Historic Prisoner Exchange Agreement Between Iran and the Biden Administration

Five U.S. citizens who had been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for years were released on Monday as part of a prisoner exchange agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Biden administration. The agreement included the transfer of $6 billion in unfrozen Iranian oil assets and the release of five Iranians facing charges in the U.S.

The five Americans were released after a high-stakes, complex diplomatic deal was brokered between the two countries. The freed Americans were on a flight from Tehran to Doha, Qatar, where they were expected to board a U.S. government plane and fly home to the United States.

The American prisoners included Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz, who had all been sentenced to 10 years in prison on unsubstantiated charges of spying. Two of the Americans involved in the agreement wished to remain anonymous, according to U.S. officials.

The plane carrying the five Americans and two of their relatives has taken off from Iran and is en route to Qatar, which had helped broker the swap. Five Iranian nationals held in U.S. custody were also expected to be released as part of the deal.

The prisoner exchange agreement between the U.S. and Iran marks a major diplomatic breakthrough between the two countries. It is hoped that this agreement will lead to further diplomatic progress between the two countries in the future.