Exclusive; White House: Indirect Negotiations with Iran Ongoing for the Release of American Prisoners

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor of the White House, said on Sunday to the Persian section of Voice of America that the Biden administration is engaged in "indirect negotiations" with the Islamic Republic with the aim of releasing detained Americans in Iran. Jake Sullivan told VOA: "We have been in indirect contact with Iran, and there are no direct negotiations regarding the nuclear issue or detainees. We have had these kinds of indirect discussions regarding detainees because it is our duty to try to bring American citizens home." This White House security official stated: "Therefore, we talk to any government in any way we can, like what we are doing with the Russian government regarding Americans who have been wrongfully detained." Sullivan described the negotiations as part of "efforts to find a solution to bring our citizens home" and said: "Currently, I have no news regarding whether we have reached any specific outcome." Currently, three Iranian-American citizens named Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz, and Siamak Namazi, and one Iranian with permanent residency in the U.S. named Shahab Deliali are imprisoned in Iran. Observers of Iranian affairs say that the Islamic Republic intends to use the detention of citizens of other countries, especially dual nationals, as leverage in its relations with other countries, effectively taking them hostage with false accusations. Many Western countries, including U.S. officials, have repeatedly warned dual citizens that traveling to Iran is risky due to the actions of the Islamic Republic and have urged them not to endanger themselves by traveling to Iran, even for family visits. The White House National Security Advisor also spoke about potential U.S. actions regarding the approaching "sunset clauses" of the JCPOA concerning the prohibition of arms sales by the Islamic Republic in light of the military cooperation between Iran and Russia, stating that the United States has taken many actions "to impose costs on Iran for delivering drones [to Russia] aimed at killing Ukrainian civilians." He emphasized the continuation of these actions, stating: "We have imposed these costs before the expiration of these JCPOA provisions and will continue to do so afterward." Iran's missile and drone activities have been among the most serious concerns for Western countries regarding Tehran in recent years and have led to several rounds of sanctions against the Islamic Republic by these countries. Recently, amid ongoing concerns about Iran's military programs, a number of American lawmakers introduced a bipartisan proposal to sanction a wide range of Iran's missile and drone activities. The United States has so far imposed numerous sanctions on those involved in and supporting the Islamic Republic's military program, especially the ballistic missile program.