The Plane Carrying Released Americans Departed Qatar for the U.S.

Dual nationals released from Iran who arrived in Qatar on Monday afternoon have departed Doha for Washington. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, following the release of five dual nationals, issued a statement urging American citizens not to travel to Iran for any reason and to leave the country immediately if they are there. Mr. Blinken stated that Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other American citizens who wish to remain anonymous have left Iran and are on their way to the United States to reunite with their loved ones. He added that two of their relatives, who are also American and had not been allowed to leave Iran until today, are accompanying them. According to him, 'Some of these individuals have spent years in prison as part of the regime's cruel practice of unlawful detention, but today they are all returning home to their loved ones.' Blinken emphasized that the release of American citizens imprisoned abroad is a priority, noting that under President Joe Biden's leadership, more than 30 wrongfully detained American citizens have been returned to the U.S. He also thanked the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and officials in the country for their role in facilitating the release and for establishing a 'humanitarian channel in Qatar for purchasing goods such as food, medicine, medical equipment, and agricultural products from Iran.' Blinken also expressed gratitude to Switzerland, South Korea, Oman, and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Secretary of State referred to the 16 years since the abduction of Bob Levinson and called on the Islamic Republic to provide 'a complete account of what happened to Bob Levinson.' He stated that the U.S. will utilize the 'Levinson Act' and other tools to promote accountability for the Islamic Republic of Iran and other regimes that engage in the brutal practice of wrongful detention. Antony Blinken reiterated the State Department's travel warning, advising citizens not to travel to Iran. He noted that despite the release of this group of American citizens, a similar outcome cannot be guaranteed for other Americans who travel to Iran disregarding warnings. He concluded by repeating his warning: 'American citizens should not travel to Iran for any reason, and I urge any American citizen in Iran to leave [the country] immediately.' Prior to Blinken, President Biden also welcomed the release of the five dual nationals and urged American citizens not to travel to Iran. In his statement, he mentioned the names of Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi, along with two other citizens who wished to remain anonymous, stating that they would soon reunite with their loved ones after enduring years of torment, uncertainty, and suffering. Mr. Biden specifically thanked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the Emir of Qatar, and Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, for 'facilitating this agreement through months of difficult and principled American diplomacy,' as well as South Korea. The U.S. President also emphasized the need for accountability from the Islamic Republic regarding 'those who did not return today,' referring to Bob Levinson, and announced sanctions against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Ministry of Intelligence under the 'Levinson Act' for their involvement in these detentions, asserting that the U.S. will continue to impose costs on the Islamic Republic for their 'provocative actions' in the region. Joe Biden welcomed the return of these American citizens to their homeland, stating: 'Once again, I remind all Americans of the serious dangers of traveling to Iran. U.S. passport holders should not travel there.' He referred to the State Department's travel warning about the risks of 'kidnapping and arbitrary detention of American citizens' in Iran, stating: 'All Americans should heed these words and should not expect that their freedom can be guaranteed if they disregard [this travel warning].' The U.S. President concluded by mentioning the return of American citizens from countries such as Russia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, and others, stating that from day one, the return of wrongfully detained American citizens has been a priority for his administration, and he will continue efforts to bring all of them back. Meanwhile, Nasser Kanani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, announced in his press conference today that the prisoner exchange between Iran and the U.S. would take place today. This Iranian official also reported that 'Iran's released assets in South Korea' would be 'available to the government and people' today. Reuters also reported on Monday that Qatar had informed Washington and Tehran that Iran's funds, worth $6 billion, had been transferred to banks in Doha. Mohammad Reza Farzin, the head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic, announced at a press conference today that an amount of €5.573 billion had been deposited into accounts of six Iranian banks at Al Ahli and Al Dukhan banks in Qatar. This Iranian official named the banks that have opened accounts in Qatar as Agricultural Bank, Saman, Pasargad, Tourism, Kaarafarin, and Shahr. The head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic also stated that 'all payments will be made by international brokers through SWIFT.' Five Iranian-American citizens had been transferred from prison to a location outside of prison since August 9 following the announcement of an agreement between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. This agreement also includes the transfer of $6 billion from Iran's blocked funds in South Korea to Qatar and the release of five Iranians who had been 'convicted or charged' in the U.S. According to the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, two of these Iranians 'will return to Iran based on their own interest and desire, one will join his family in a third country, and two others wish to remain in the U.S.' Iranian officials had previously referred to the prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran as a 'humanitarian' issue and denied that the exchange of prisoners was in exchange for the release of blocked funds. On August 9, Iran transferred four dual nationals from Evin Prison to another controlled location, which is said to be in one of the hotels in Tehran. The fifth individual had previously been placed under house arrest. Antony Blinken stated on the same day that this action was the first step in a process that would lead to the return of these five individuals to the U.S. Siamak Namazi, 51, Emad Sharqi, 59, both businessmen, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, an environmental activist, are three of the five released dual nationals. The identities of the fourth and fifth individuals have not been disclosed, but it is said that one of them is a woman. On the other hand, the Iranians released in the U.S. have committed serious crimes such as circumventing U.S. sanctions against Iran. Voice of America previously reported the names of these individuals as Amin Hassan Zadeh, Mehrdad Ansari, Kambez Attar Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour Kafri, and Kaveh Lotfollah Afrasiabi.