Khorasan Newspaper Claims: Fourth American Prisoner in Iran is a Woman

While the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry speaks of ongoing negotiations for a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, Khorasan newspaper has reported the detention of an Iranian-American woman, stating that her release request has led to a halt in the 'execution of the exchange.' On Tuesday, August 7, Khorasan revealed the detention of an Iranian-American woman, reporting that U.S. officials are seeking her release, which has caused the suspension of the prisoner exchange. In this report, without mentioning the identity of the detained individual, this Iranian-American citizen is introduced as 'the fifth American citizen detained in Iran' (including Baqer Namazi, who was released and left Iran last year after years of imprisonment) and it is emphasized that this woman has a history of working with NGOs in Afghanistan. According to this report, the American side has halted the 'execution of the exchange' of prisoners with the Islamic Republic of Iran until this woman is freed. This report coincides with statements made by Nasser Kanani, who on August 7 at a press conference said that the 'discussion of prisoner exchange' between Iran and the U.S. is 'considered a humanitarian issue by us.' The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry also emphasized that 'mediated discussions with the American side' are ongoing with the aim of 'creating a solution for the realization' of prisoner releases, and discussions and consultations continue with 'various influential parties' including 'Oman.' Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi are three Iranian-American citizens imprisoned in Iran, and if the news of the detention of this Iranian-American woman is confirmed, the number of U.S. citizens detained in Iran would rise to four. Shahab Dalili, who has permanent residency in the United States, is also imprisoned in Iran. The U.S. State Department has stated that the United States continues to work for the release of 'wrongfully detained' citizens in Iran. Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at the White House, stated on July 9 to the Persian section of Voice of America that the Biden administration is engaged in 'indirect negotiations' with the Islamic Republic aimed at freeing detained Americans. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department also described the detention of American citizens by the Islamic Republic as a means of using them as political leverage and 'cruel.' He emphasized the Biden administration's commitment to freeing all American citizens imprisoned in other countries, stating: 'We will not stop until they are reunited with their loved ones.'