Iran may free five U.S. citizens in prisoner swap, fund deal
World,Iran,Middle East,Foreign Affairs,Oil
Iran may free five detained U.S. citizens as part of a deal under which $6 billion in Iranian funds in South Korea would be unfrozen and the United States would release some Iranians from U.S. prisons, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
As a first step in what may be a complex set of maneuvers, Iran allowed four detained U.S. citizens to move into house arrest from Tehran's Evin prison, a lawyer for one said, joining a fifth who was already under home confinement.
The Iranian Americans allowed to leave the prison include businessmen Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Shargi, 58, as well as environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, 67, who also has British nationality, said Jared Genser, a lawyer who represents Namazi.
The identity of the fourth U.S. citizen who was allowed out of prison has not been made public, nor has that of the fifth who was already under house arrest.
