Iran announces that it will exchange 10 prisoners with the United States this Monday

Iran and the United States will exchange five prisoners from each country this Monday, once the transfer of $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds to Qatar is completed, the Iranian government reported.

“Five Iranian citizens detained in the United States will be released and five American citizens will return to the United States,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kananí.

The diplomat indicated that two of the Iranian citizens will return to the Persian country, another two will remain in the United States and the fifth will travel to a third country.

According to regional media, American prisoners Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and two other unidentified people will be transported to Qatar in the early afternoon.

The prisoner exchange takes place after the transfer of $6 billion belonging to Tehran and blocked in South Korea has been completed, part of the agreement that Tehran and Washington reached in early August.

The United States approved a waiver for the release of funds from debts incurred by Seoul for the purchase of gas from Iran and the money has been transferred to several accounts in Qatar.

The United States has assured that Iran will not have “direct” access to the billions of dollars that can only be used for “strictly humanitarian” uses.

Hours before the announcement of the release of the prisoners, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisí left for New York this Monday to speak before the UN Assembly, where he is expected to hold a press conference, according to Iranian media.

Iran has been accused of using dual national and foreign prisoners as a pressure measure or for prisoner exchanges with other states, a practice described as “hostage diplomacy” by other countries and human rights organizations.