Joe Biden has imposed new sanctions on Iran’s intelligence ministry (File)
Washington:
The USA on Monday confirmed a prisoner swap with Iran and stated that President Joe Biden had granted clemency to 5 Iranians jailed or awaiting trial for non-violent crimes.
A US official stated that seven US residents had been on a Qatari aircraft that departed Iran. They embrace three beforehand recognized People — Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and Emad Sharqi — and two who want to stay nameless.
Additionally on the aircraft are Namazi’s mom and Sharqi’s spouse, each of whom are US residents who had been barred from leaving Iran, though they weren’t imprisoned.
All are of Iranian descent and are thought of residents by Tehran, which doesn’t recognise twin nationality.
The US official stated that Joe Biden, in taking the politically dangerous transfer, was additionally imposing new sanctions on Iran’s intelligence ministry and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The sanctions had been imposed over alleged deceit over the disappearance of Bob Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in mysterious circumstances and is presumed lifeless.
“The USA won’t ever hand over on Bob Levinson’s case. We name on the Iranian regime to provide a full account of what occurred to Bob Levinson,” a senior US official stated on situation of anonymity.
Levinson had travelled to the Iranian island of Kish on a CIA mission. Iran has not acknowledged his arrest.
The US official stated that the 5 Iranians granted clemency had been all charged or convicted with nonviolent crimes. Two had been in jail, with the sentence of 1 quickly to finish, and three had been awaiting trial, the official stated.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
