The Plane Carrying Released Americans from Iran Arrives in Washington

Dual nationals released from the clutches of the Islamic Republic, who left Doha, Qatar for Washington on Monday night, arrived in the U.S. capital early Tuesday local time. Five Iranian-American citizens had been transferred from prison to a safe house since August 10, following the announcement of an agreement between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. This agreement also included the transfer of six billion dollars of Iran's blocked funds in South Korea to Qatar and the release of five Iranians 'convicted or accused' in the U.S. Reuters reported on Monday that Qatar confirmed the transfer of six billion dollars from Iran to banks in Doha and informed Washington and Tehran. Mohammad Reza Farzin, the head of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic, also announced at a press conference on Monday that 5 billion and 573 million euros had been deposited into accounts of six Iranian banks in two banks in Qatar. However, of the five 'accused or convicted' Iranians in the U.S., only two have agreed to return to Iran, while three others have stated they will remain in the U.S. or go to a third country. Iranian officials had previously described the prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran as a 'humanitarian' issue and denied that the exchange of prisoners was in exchange for released funds. Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Sharqi, 59, both businessmen, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, an environmental activist, are three of the five dual nationals released. 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, Kambiz Attar Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour Kafri, and Kaveh Lotfollah Afrasiabi. The President of the United States welcomed the release of the five dual nationals on Monday and urged American citizens not to travel to Iran. Joe Biden specifically thanked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, the Emir of Qatar, and Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, for 'helping to facilitate this agreement through months of difficult and principled American diplomacy,' as well as South Korea, and emphasized the need for accountability from the Islamic Republic regarding 'those who did not return today,' mentioning Bob Levinson by name, and stated that he would continue to impose costs on the Islamic Republic for their 'provocative actions' in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also issued a statement after the release of the five dual nationals, urging American citizens not to travel to Iran for any reason and to leave the country immediately if they are there. Blinken stated at the beginning of the statement that Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other American citizens who do not wish to disclose their identities have left Iran and are on their way to the United States to reunite with their loved ones. The Secretary of State 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 illegal detention, but today they are all returning home to their loved ones.'