US dismisses ‘merciless’ Iran prisoner swap declare

U.S. officers dismissed Iranian claims that the 2 international locations have been nearing an settlement on a prisoner swap, saying feedback from Iran’s prime diplomat have been a “merciless lie.”

Iranian International Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated Sunday on Iranian state tv that Iran was in settlement with the U.S. on a prisoner swap, saying “If every little thing goes nicely on the American’s facet, I believe we are going to see the trade of prisoners within the quick time period.”

Amir-Abdollahian claimed the settlement had been in place since final March, however U.S. officers advised The Related Press that there was no such deal between the 2 nations.

“We’re working relentlessly to safe the discharge of the three wrongfully detained People in Iran,” State Division spokesperson Ned Value stated to The Related Press. “We is not going to cease till they’re reunited with their family members.”

Value stated the feedback from Amir-Abdollahian have been “one other particularly merciless lie that solely provides to the struggling of their households.”

The Nationwide Safety Council additionally stated that the Iranian claims have been false in a press release to the Related Press.

“Sadly, Iranian officers is not going to hesitate to make issues up, and the newest merciless declare will trigger extra heartache for the households of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz,” the council stated.

Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz are three People which can be recognized to be held in Iran on espionage fees, a apply that the Iranian regime is thought to make use of to achieve leverage in negotiations with the west. All of them three have twin American-Iranian citizenship.

The declare from Iran comes because the nation reached an sudden, Chinese language-negotiated settlement with Saudi Arabia, which is able to see the 2 international locations reengage diplomatic ties with one another. The Chinese language involvement within the deal between the 2 adversaries has raised alarms concerning the affect of the U.S. within the area.

The State Division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.