Prince Reza Pahlavi: Prisoner Exchange with the Islamic Republic Encourages More Hostage-Taking

Following the exchange of Assadollah Assadi and a Belgian aid worker mediated by Oman, various political figures and human rights organizations reacted to this action. Prince Reza Pahlavi also tweeted that such actions encourage the Islamic Republic to engage in more hostage-taking and terrorist activities. Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote: "In my meetings with European lawmakers and politicians, I emphasized that exchanging their hostages with the regime's terrorists not only does not end the Islamic Republic's hostage-taking and terrorism but encourages this regime to engage in more hostage-taking and terrorist actions." He further added: "I have repeatedly told them in these meetings that the solution lies in a coordinated action from a position of strength: recall your ambassadors from Iran and simultaneously expel the regime's ambassadors. Immediately list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Help the people of Iran achieve the freedom and democracy they deserve and have sacrificed for." Iran and Belgium exchanged two prisoners on Friday with Oman's mediation. Hours after Oman announced its mediation, Iranian and Belgian officials confirmed the release and exchange of Olivier Vandecasteele and Assadollah Assadi, the diplomat of the Islamic Republic. Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian aid worker, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic in Bahman 1400 (January 2022) and sentenced to 40 years in prison on charges of "espionage." He was exchanged on Friday, 5 Khordad, with Assadollah Assadi, a diplomat of the Islamic Republic who had been convicted in a Belgian court for his involvement in a bombing operation against a gathering of the Mojahedin-e Khalq in Paris. Also see: Darya Safai told Voice of America: Assadi is a released terrorist, and this day is a "very bitter and dark" day. The exchange of a Belgian hostage of the Islamic Republic with Assadollah Assadi; what is the position of the U.S. government? Spraying red paint on the Iran Air office in Paris in protest against the handover of Assadollah Assadi. Timeline: "From Arrest to Exchange" of the Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorist action with the Belgian aid worker. Darya Safai told Voice of America: Assadi is a released terrorist, and this day is a "very bitter and dark" day. Iran and Belgium exchanged two prisoners; the Belgian aid worker and the imprisoned diplomat Assadollah Assadi were released.