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Iran Silent on 12 Iranians Detained by US Despite Pledge to Swap Prisoners
Again

Michael Lipin

   WASHINGTON - Iran appears to have shown little public or private
   support for 12 Iranians accused or convicted of crimes in the U.S.,
   despite pledging to work for the release of such citizensfour months
   agoin another potential prisoner swap with Washington.

   The last, rare prisoner exchange between the two longtime foes happened
   December 7, when Iran freed Chinese American academicXiyueWang in
   return for the U.S. releasing Iranian scientist Masoud Soleimani. The
   swap happened in Zurich through Swiss mediation.

   Two days later, IranianForeignMinister Mohammad Javad Zariftweeted that
   Tehran was ready for afurther"comprehensive prisoner exchange"with
   Washington. A day after that, his aide Mohsen Baharvand told Iranian
   state news agency [1]IRNAthat there were"around 20"other Iranians whom
   Tehran was seeking to release from U.S. custody.

   U.S. Special Representative for Iran,Brian Hook,told a December
   10thforum in Washington that he viewedBaharvand'scomments as
   a"positive'¦first step"that could lead to the release of"all innocent
   Americans"detained in Iran.
   

References

   Visible links
   1. https://www.irna.ir/news/83588857/%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B0%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%85

   Hidden links:
   2. file://localhost/middle-east/voa-news-iran/us-stance-irans-prisoner-swap-offers-turns-positive-after-rare-exchange

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