Mahmoud Alavi: The Ministry of Intelligence Negotiated with the U.S. for Prisoner Exchange

Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, reiterated the role of his ministry in the negotiations two years ago with the United States for the release of several prisoners from both countries. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Mr. Alavi stated on Friday, May 4, before the Friday prayers in Tehran: 'The Ministry of Intelligence engaged in negotiations with the American side for a prisoner exchange, resulting in the return of $1.71 billion to the country. Additionally, several prisoners were released, and sanctions on a bank and several institutions were lifted.' In January 2016, following Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers, four Iranian-American dual citizens imprisoned in Iran were released. Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post journalist in Iran, Amir Hekmati, a former Marine, Saeed Abedini, a Christian convert, and Nasratollah Khosravi Roudsari were the four individuals announced at that time, with the U.S. intending to release seven Iranian prisoners in exchange for their freedom. It later became clear that the U.S. simultaneously provided $400 million in cash to Tehran upon the release of these four prisoners, which was part of Iran's confiscated assets related to arms purchases from the U.S. during the Shah's era. However, these actions later became a subject of dispute and discussion between Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Organization, with each claiming credit for the release of these prisoners and the return of confiscated funds to Iran. Meanwhile, Mahmoud Alavi stated in his remarks on Friday that the negotiations by the Ministry of Intelligence with the U.S. were made possible by a 'resolution from the Supreme National Security Council.' He also mentioned that his ministry played a significant role in facilitating 'healthy international relations' by providing timely information and warnings to the country's diplomatic apparatus. Previously, Abolfazl Hossein-Beigi, the deputy head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament, stated that the U.S. was supposed to release 20 Iranian prisoners in exchange for Jason Rezaian's freedom, but 'did not adhere to its commitments.'