US prisoners freed after ‘nightmare’ in Iranian jails return home.

Five Americans freed ​ from Iran made an emotional return to the United States on Tuesday,‍ putting ⁣an end to their imprisonment “nightmare.” This came a day after​ they were swapped for five Iranians ⁢held in the United States and $6 billion in Iranian funds were unfrozen.

As they stepped off the plane, the returning Americans were greeted by their families and friends, with smiles, laughter, and visible emotion ⁢captured in⁢ video footage from the ⁢airport. One of the returnees ‍even waved a small​ Stars and Stripes flag that was handed to him.

“The ⁤nightmare⁤ is finally over,” said Babak Namazi, speaking with his arm around his returning‌ brother Siamak at Fort⁢ Belvoir, Virginia.

The welcome ceremony⁤ followed a meticulously planned exchange, which was​ agreed upon after months of Qatar-mediated talks. The process was set in​ motion on Monday when the blocked funds in South Korea were wired, via Switzerland, to banks in Doha.

Once the transfer was confirmed, the five U.S. prisoners, along ⁢with two‌ relatives, departed from⁣ Tehran on a ​Qatari ‌plane, while two of the five ⁢Iranian detainees landed in Doha on their way back home. Three Iranians chose not to⁣ return to Iran.

This deal resolves a​ longstanding point of contention between the United States, ‌which accuses Tehran of sponsoring terrorism, and Iran, which refers to Washington as the “Great Satan.”

However, it remains uncertain whether this development ⁣will bring ⁣the two adversaries, who ‌have been ⁣at odds for 40 years, any closer on other issues ⁤such as Iran’s ​nuclear ⁢program, its support for⁤ regional militias, the ⁤U.S. military presence in the Gulf, and⁣ U.S. sanctions.

The freed Americans include U.S.-Iranian dual citizens Siamak Namazi, 51, ‌and Emad Sharqi, 59, both⁣ businessmen, as well as⁤ Morad Tahbaz,​ 67, an environmentalist who also holds British nationality. The identities of the other two‍ individuals ‍have not been publicly disclosed.

‘Humanitarian Action’

President⁢ Joe Biden welcomed the return of the prisoners ‌in a ⁣statement on⁢ Monday, but his administration also announced fresh U.S. sanctions.

“We will continue to ​impose costs on Iran for their ⁣provocative actions in the region,” he said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was in New York for the ⁢annual U.N. General Assembly, referred to‌ the swap as ⁢a humanitarian action.‌ He added, “It⁤ can certainly be a step based upon which in the ⁢future other humanitarian actions can be taken.”

Biden, a Democrat,⁣ has faced criticism from Republicans over the deal. House Foreign ⁣Affairs Committee chairman⁤ Michael McCaul, a prominent Republican, expressed concern that the transfer of the $6 billion could encourage Iran to detain more U.S. citizens.

Biden’s aides argue that ​the money belongs to Iran and is being transferred from restricted South Korean accounts to restricted accounts in⁤ Qatar. Qatar will monitor the cash to‍ ensure it is used for humanitarian goods and⁢ not for​ items under‌ U.S. sanctions.

Relations between the United States and ‍Iran have been particularly bitter since 2018 when then-President Donald‌ Trump withdrew from a deal aimed⁤ at curbing ⁢Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and intensified U.S. sanctions.

Washington suspects Iran’s nuclear program may be⁣ geared towards developing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies.

U.S. Secretary of State‍ Antony ⁣Blinken has left ‍the door open to ‍nuclear diplomacy but suggested that no immediate⁣ progress ⁣is⁤ expected.

U.S. analysts remain skeptical about the prospects for progress, especially with the upcoming U.S.‌ election in 2024.

“The prisoner swap⁢ does likely pave the way for additional‌ diplomacy⁤ around the nuclear program this fall, although the ⁣prospect for actually reaching a deal ​is very ⁤remote,” said Henry Rome of the Washington Institute​ for Near East Policy.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha; Humeyra Pamuk ​and Parisa Hafezi ‌in New York; ⁢writing by Edmund Blair and Arshad Mohammed; editing by Gareth Jones, Jon Boyle, Alexandra Hudson)

Published under: Iran