Five Americans imprisoned in Iran have been released in a prisoner exchange negotiated by the Biden administration.
Image Credit - Instagram
As part of the deal, $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil revenues was released by the United States, and five Iranians charged or convicted of non-violent crimes were freed by the U.S.
Image Credit - Instagram
The exchange is not formally linked to stalled nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran but comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
Image Credit - Instagram
The prisoner exchange could impact the U.S. presidential race, with Republican candidates criticizing it as paying a ransom to a state sponsor of terrorism.
Image Credit - Instagram
The five released Americans had been accused of being spies or working for the U.S. government in Iran, with their detentions described as "arbitrary" by the United Nations.
Image Credit - Instagram
The identities of the two other Americans in the exchange have not been disclosed.
Image Credit - Instagram
The U.S. has given South Korea the green light to pay Iran for oil purchased before sanctions were imposed by the Trump administration in 2019.
Image Credit - Instagram
The funds will be held in restricted accounts in Qatar and used for humanitarian purposes, such as food and medicine.
Image Credit - Instagram
The Biden administration plans to issue new sanctions against Iran's ministry of intelligence and former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Image Credit - Instagram
The prisoner exchange is seen as a step toward de-escalation and could pave the way for potential future negotiations, including on the Iran nuclear deal.
Image Credit - Instagram