White House: Agreement for the Release of American Prisoners in Iran Remains on Track

Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor at the White House, said on Tuesday that Washington believes the agreement with Iran for the release of five American citizens is still on the right track. However, he refrained from providing a timeline for their release. Two weeks ago, in a significant development 'on the path to freedom' for the five dual-national Americans imprisoned in Iranian prisons, four of them were transferred to house arrest 'in a hotel in Tehran,' which seems to be 'a step forward' in the 'hostage exchange agreement' between the United States and Iran. This is the first step of an agreement under which $6 billion of Iran's frozen assets in South Korea will be released in exchange for allowing these five American citizens to leave Iran. According to Reuters, Sullivan said in a conference call with reporters, 'We believe that things are progressing based on the understandings we have reached with Iran.' He added, 'I don't have a specific timeline for you because there are steps that need to be initiated. But we believe that this process is still on track.' The authorization for the exit of these five individuals from Iran may take weeks. The detention of American citizens in Iran has been a focal point of tension between the two countries. Despite their potential release following the implementation of this agreement, both sides still have serious disagreements on other issues ranging from Iran's nuclear program to its support for regional Shiite militias. The Iranian-American detainees who were granted permission to leave Evin prison in Iran on August 9 include 51-year-old Siamak Namazi (a businessman), 58-year-old Emad Sharqi, and 67-year-old Morad Tahbaz, an environmental activist who also holds British citizenship. The identity of the fourth American citizen who left prison and the fifth who was already under house arrest has not been disclosed. The U.S. claims that the Islamic Republic effectively takes citizens hostage. Earlier, Mark Turner, an American lawmaker, stated to an American television network that Congress should consider a travel ban for American citizens to Iran. Mike Turner, an American lawmaker: Congress should consider a travel ban to Iran. Reactions to Ghazizadeh's presence in Montreal; Ismailioun calls for accountability from Canadian officials. Europe has sanctioned seven officials of the Islamic Republic for serious human rights violations. The Islamic Republic's reaction to the possibility of permanent sanctions: it is fruitless.