Blinken: We want to ensure we complete the process and bring the prisoners home

In a news update, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed happiness that dual nationals have been released from prison, stating, "But we want to ensure that we complete this process and bring them home to their families." The U.S. Secretary of State also told a CNN reporter that aside from the five individuals who have previously been moved to house arrest, he has no information about American citizens or Iranians with "permanent residency" facing illegal detention in Iran. The CNN reporter quoted Blinken on the messaging platform X, stating, "The State Department is actively engaged in the process of releasing five Americans who have successfully been moved from Iranian prisons to better conditions of house arrest." Blinken had previously stated that Iran would not receive any "sanction relief" in exchange for the release of the five dual national prisoners. According to Agence France-Presse, Blinken responded to a question about the process of freeing dual nationals detained by the Islamic Republic and the "release of $6 billion of Iran's frozen funds," saying, "Iran will not receive any sanction relief in exchange for the release of five Americans." Jared Genser, the lawyer for Siamak Namazi, an American citizen imprisoned in Iran, and the CNN network reported on Thursday the transfer of four imprisoned American citizens to a hotel in Tehran. According to Mr. Genser, these individuals will be held in the hotel for several weeks until they receive permission to leave Iran. The White House announced that five Iranian-American prisoners transferred to a hotel have been welcomed. Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, and Morad Tahbaz are the identities of three of these four American prisoners. The identity of the fourth or fifth American prisoner transferred to the hotel remains unknown. Mr. Genser expressed hope that the transfer of these American citizens would pave the way for their final release and return to the U.S., emphasizing that there are no guarantees about what will happen. Genser also quoted the transferred prisoners as saying that the hotel will be under the supervision of Iranian officials, though he did not mention the name of the hotel. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, called the transfer of the "five Iranian-American prisoners" from Evin prison to house arrest a "hopeful step." She mentioned the names of Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi, stating, "Two other Americans who should not have been detained at all prefer to remain anonymous for now." Adrienne Watson emphasized that the Biden administration continues to closely monitor their conditions and "we will not rest until all of them return to the United States." The spokesperson for the National Security Council refrained from providing details about their status in house arrest or the Biden administration's efforts to ensure their release, while noting the ongoing "delicate and sensitive" negotiations for the final release of these American citizens. Kamibiz Tavana: These releases are only for American citizens and do not include "Shahab Dalili," who has a U.S. green card. Nizar Zaka: The world must work to free hostages while preventing the Iranian regime from hostage-taking. Report by Shahla Arasteh on the U.S. Congress's reaction to the potential release of Iranian-Americans from prison. Details of the transfer of Iranian-Americans to an unknown hotel in Tehran; Gita Arian reports. Report by Farhad Poladi from the White House: The first reaction to the potential release of five hostages from Iran. Iran confirmed the "release of funds" in exchange for the release of hostages but denied the "method of spending." Tom Cotton: We should not pay ransom to the Islamic Republic; John Kirby: It is a humanitarian action. CNN: The framework of the "dual national prisoner exchange" is separate from the "nuclear agreement negotiations." The U.S. State Department: Five of our citizens should be allowed to leave Iran immediately. The White House's reaction to the transfer of imprisoned Americans: We are closely monitoring the situation.