The White House secured the release of five Americans imprisoned in Iran in exchange for several Iranian nationals imprisoned in the United States as well as the release of nearly $6 billion in seized Iranian oil funds.
“The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to house arrest is an important development,” Jared Genser, a lawyer representing one of the Americans released in the deal, told the New York Times.
“While I hope this will be the first step to their ultimate release, this is at best the beginning of the end and nothing more,” the attorney added. “But there are simply no guarantees about what happens from here.”
Three of the five – Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz – were all taken prisoner by Iran on dubious charges of espionage and spying. Two other Americans – a scientist and businessman – have not had their names publicized, sources familiar with the situation told the Times.
The former was handed down a decade-long sentence and has been incarcerated in the notorious Evin Prison since 2015 for allegedly “collaborating with a hostile state.” Tahbaz was handed a similar sentence for having “contacts with the U.S. government.”
As part of the deal, the U.S. will transfer the $6 billion in seized Iranian oil revenue to a Qatari bank, the Times reports. The Qataris will be tasked with overseeing the funds and allowing the Iranians to withdraw the funds only to pay for humanitarian needs.
The prisoners have been transferred to a hotel in Tehran, according to their attorneys, where they will remain for several weeks until they board a plane bound for the U.S., only after the funds have been transferred.
The deal represents a breakthrough after nearly two years of stalled negotiations.