United States: The United States National Security Adviser Mr. Jake Sullivan has announced that a prisoner swap deal between the United States and Iran is “on track.” The statement comes less than two weeks after Tehran moved five detained US citizens to house arrest. Mr. Sullivan’s comments are interpreted as a rare public expression of confidence from Washington that the prisoner swap would take place.
“We believe that things are proceeding according to the understanding that we have reached with Iran,” Mr. Sullivan told reporters.
“I do not have an exact timetable for you because there are steps that need to unfold. But we believe that that remains on track,” the White House official added.
According to reports earlier this month, Washington and Tehran were working on a deal to release the five American citizens in exchange for allowing Iran to access $6 billion in funds that have been frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions. The tentative deal would also see the administration of US President Joe Biden free several Iranian nationals imprisoned in the United States.
Recently, US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken welcomed Iran’s decision to move the detained Americans from prison to house arrest as a “positive step,” but he stressed that “they are not home yet.”
Additionally, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mr. Nasser Kanaani said no specific timeline had been set for completing the exchange but that “it will take a maximum of two months for this process to take place”.
The deal comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries after the US bolstered its military presence in the Gulf after accusing Iran of seizing and intercepting international ships in strategic waters.
TOP PICKS | Israel-Palestine conflict claims 200+ lives in 2023; UN envoy
