Reports confirm that the United States has finalized a $6 billion agreement with Iran, leading to the liberation of five American detainees.

Among those released from the notorious Evin prison in Tehran are Iranian Americans Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other unnamed individuals. The detainees, who had faced allegations of espionage, have now been relocated to a Tehran hotel under house arrest, as reported by The New York Times.

In line with the arrangement, the US government will release $6 billion worth of oil assets and, in return, several Iranian prisoners will also regain their freedom, sources say.

According to Jared Genser, legal counsel for Mr. Namazi, the group will remain at the hotel for several weeks before departing the country by plane.

Sources have disclosed that one of the unnamed Americans is a scientist, while the other is a businessman. An additional American detainee, a woman, has already been transferred to house arrest.

Jared Genser remarked to CNN, “The move by Iran of the American hostages from Evin Prison to an expected house arrest is an important development. 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.”

He further emphasized, “There are simply no guarantees about what happens from here.”

Siamak Namazi, arrested during a business trip to Iran in 2015, was charged with having “relations with a hostile state.” His father, Baquer Namazi, was freed in October 2022 after more than six years of incarceration in Iran.

Emad Sharghi, a businessman, and Morad Tahbaz, an environmentalist, both faced arrest in 2018. All three men have consistently denied the allegations against them, a stance echoed by the US State Department, which asserted their wrongful detention.

As disclosed by insiders, the $6 billion in Iranian assets will be unfrozen in South Korea and channeled into an account at the central bank of Qatar. Managed by the Qatari government, these funds can only be utilized by Iran for humanitarian purposes like food and medicine.

Adrienne Watson, National Security Council Spokesperson, acknowledged the development on behalf of the Biden administration. She affirmed, “We have received confirmation that Iran has released from prison five Americans who were unjustly detained and has placed them on house arrest.”

Watson added, “While this is an encouraging step, these US citizens – Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two Americans who at this time wish to remain private – should have never been detained in the first place.”

She reiterated the commitment to securing their full release and noted that negotiations continue delicately.

Jamal Abdi, President of the National Iranian American Council, expressed optimism about the news. He stated, “This is welcome news and we are hopeful that this is just the first step and these unjustly detained Iranian Americans will be free to return home and reunite with their loved ones very soon.”

Source: Independent.uk