Iran Says Willing to Swap Prisoners with United States

An Iranian woman, wearing a veil, walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 12 June 2023. (EPA)
An Iranian woman, wearing a veil, walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 12 June 2023. (EPA)
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Iran Says Willing to Swap Prisoners with United States

An Iranian woman, wearing a veil, walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 12 June 2023. (EPA)
An Iranian woman, wearing a veil, walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 12 June 2023. (EPA)

Iran said on Monday it was hoping indirect talks with the United States could lead to a "positive" outcome for a prisoner swap.

Iran announced earlier this month that it was engaged in Oman-mediated talks with its arch-nemesis the United States over its nuclear deal and a possible prisoner exchange.

"We are negotiating for the release of Iranian citizens through parties who play a role in good faith," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said on Monday.

"We have to see if the American government is ready to make a final decision in this regard," he told reporters, adding that Tehran hoped "to witness such a positive event".

At least three Iranian-Americans are being held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage.

The other two are venture capitalist Emad Sharqi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on spying charges, and Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British nationality, and was jailed for 10 years for "conspiring with America".

In the past two months, Iran released six European citizens and recovered an Iranian diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, who was convicted of terrorism and imprisoned in Belgium.

Kanani's comment came following media reports that Washington and Tehran were close to an interim deal to replace the 2015 nuclear accord. The two sides have denied these reports.

Known as the JCPOA, the accord granted Iran much-needed sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear deal before it collapsed in 2018 after Washington unilateral pullout.

In recent days, the two capitals have denied media reports that they were close to reaching an interim deal to replace the 2015 accord.

Efforts to revive the accord have so far failed to yield results.

Stop-start talks that began in April last year to restore the nuclear deal have yet to bear fruit.

Tehran and Washington cut diplomatic ties in 1980 following the revolution in Iran.



Ukraine President’s Chief of Staff in US for Talks on Defense Support 

Firefighters extinguish cars hit by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine June 3, 2025. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters)
Firefighters extinguish cars hit by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine June 3, 2025. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters)
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Ukraine President’s Chief of Staff in US for Talks on Defense Support 

Firefighters extinguish cars hit by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine June 3, 2025. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters)
Firefighters extinguish cars hit by a Russian military strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine June 3, 2025. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters)

A Ukrainian government delegation arrived in Washington on Tuesday to discuss military support and sanctions against Russia, a day after Kyiv and Moscow held their second round of peace talks.

Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, said he arrived in Washington together with the first deputy prime minister and other government officials.

"We will actively promote issues that are important for Ukraine. Our agenda is rather comprehensive," Yermak said on the Telegram app. "We plan to talk about defense support and the situation on the battlefield, strengthening sanctions against Russia..."

Yermak said the officials would also discuss the bilateral minerals deal which gives the United States preferential access to new Ukrainian mineral projects and sets up an investment fund which could be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia made little progress during their second round of talks in Istanbul and remain far apart in their positions.

Zelenskiy has been repeatedly urging the United States and President Donald Trump to impose tougher sanctions on Russia if Moscow stalls the peace talks.