Shortly after the payment for Iran's oil exports, which had been frozen in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions, was transferred to Qatar, a prisoner swap took place between the United States and Iran. However, the U.S. side stated that this was solely a humanitarian action and did not signify any change in the hostile relationship between the U.S. and Iran. U.S. President Joe Biden also expressed gratitude to the South Korean government and others who helped facilitate the prisoner release.
According to AP News and others, on the 18th (local time), five American detainees released from Iran arrived in Doha, the capital of Qatar, aboard a Qatar Airways passenger plane. Multiple officials confirmed that the detainees left Tehran with two family members and boarded a flight from Doha to Washington, D.C. Prior to this, two Iranian detainees released from the U.S. also arrived in Doha. Among the five released detainees, one moved to a third country instead of Iran, while the remaining two stayed in the U.S.
This was in accordance with an agreement reached last month between the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Qatar, to return Iranian funds frozen in South Korea to Iran and to exchange prisoners. Earlier, Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a press conference broadcast on state media, "The $6 billion (approximately 8 trillion won) of Iranian funds frozen in South Korea was transferred to Qatar today. Accordingly, the prisoner exchange will proceed."
The prisoner swap took place ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, where world leaders including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will gather. UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres expressed hope that "this prisoner exchange will lead to greater cooperation and tension reduction between the two countries."
However, the U.S. side also made it clear that there would be no change in relations with Iran. They also dismissed the possibility of resuming negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal. In a statement celebrating the prisoner release, President Biden urged the Iranian government to fully explain what happened to former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran in 2007. He emphasized, "We will continue to hold Iran accountable for its provocative actions in the region." On the same day, the U.S. imposed sanctions on former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian intelligence agency in connection with Iran's illegal detentions.
President Biden added, "I thank our domestic and international partners, including the governments of Qatar, Oman, Switzerland, and South Korea, who tirelessly worked to help us achieve this outcome." Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stated in a release that Qatar, Switzerland, South Korea, Oman, and the United Kingdom supported the release efforts, adding, "We also express our gratitude for South Korea's close cooperation and partnership."
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