New York Times: Iran Calls US Proposal for Negotiation on Prisoners 'Old News'

Hours after a report about the 'US proposal' to the Islamic Republic for negotiations regarding dual-national prisoners was published, a member of the Islamic Coalition Party and a conservative activist described the report as 'old news.' The American newspaper Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, February 8, citing American officials and sources, that the White House proposed establishing a direct communication channel to negotiate on both sides' prisoners in December. This action was referred to as the first diplomatic effort by the Donald Trump administration to resolve the issue of American prisoners in Iran. However, shortly after, another American newspaper quoted Hamidreza Taraghi, a member of the Islamic Coalition Party, who described the news as 'old' and deemed negotiations with the US as futile. Mr. Taraghi, who the New York Times identified as 'an advisor' to individuals close to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, stated that the essence of this news dates back to the summer of this year, and Tehran rejected this proposal at that time. According to Mr. Taraghi, Iran 'will never negotiate with the Trump administration.' This conservative activist also referred to the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA, stating to the New York Times that 'they showed they are not honest in the nuclear agreement, so what is the benefit of new negotiations?' Baqer Namazi, Siamak Namazi, and Xiao Wang are three American citizens currently imprisoned in Iran. Karen Vafadari, an Iranian-American citizen, and her husband Afrin Niasari, as well as Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen with permanent residency in the US, are also imprisoned in Iran. Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who has been missing for ten years, is said to have been last seen on Kish Island. However, the Iranian government claims it has no information about Mr. Levinson's fate or whereabouts. Steve Goldstein, the Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs, told the Wall Street Journal, 'We raise the issue of freeing American citizens who are unjustly imprisoned in Iran whenever we can, and we have raised this issue through various mechanisms.' Recently, the issue of Baqer Namazi, an 81-year-old citizen, being returned to Evin Prison after being granted leave, elicited a response from the US. The White House announced on Wednesday that Iran is responsible for Baqer Namazi's health. In this context, a judge rejected the bail request from Afrin Niasari. The US State Department criticized the return of Baqer Namazi to Evin Prison. The Wall Street Journal confirmed the arrest of an Iranian citizen 'residing in Britain.'