5 Americans detained to be freed Monday under prisoner swap deal, Iran Foreign Ministry says
A prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is expected to take place on Monday, officials said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani acknowledged during a press conference that the swap would take place Monday without providing additional information, according to The Associated Press. The deal includes releasing five Iranians imprisoned in the US for five Americans imprisoned in Iran, and the freeing of some $6 billion once frozen in South Korea.
Kanaani said the cash, a key element of the planned swap, is now in Qatar, which is serving as an interlocutor between Tehran and Washington in the negotiations.
"We witnessed freezing of parts (sic) Iranian assets in some countries including South Korea," Kanaani said. "As part of our policy of active foreign diplomacy, fortunately Iran’s frozen assets in South Korea were released and God willing today the assets will start to be fully controlled by the government and the nation."
