Iran says ready to swap more prisoners with US

07:25, June 12, 2020

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  Iran: Ready for more prisoner exchanges with the US

  FILE PHOTO: Michael White, a freed U.S. Navy veteran detained in Iran since 2018, poses with U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook while on his return to the United States at Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland June 4, 2020. U.S. /State DepartmentIran is ready for further prisoner exchanges with the United States, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Sunday, according to the official IRNA news agency.Michael White, a U.S. Navy veteran detained in Iran since 2018, was freed last Thursday as part of a deal in which the United States allowed Iranian-American physician Majid Taheri to visit Iran - a rare instance of U.S.-Iranian cooperation.Whites release came two days after the United States deported Sirous Asgari, an Iranian professor imprisoned in the United States despite having being acquitted of stealing trade secrets."If the possibility of exchanging prisoners exists, we have the readiness to free the rest of the individuals who are imprisoned in America and return them to the country," Mousavi said.(With input from agencies)

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  Iran confirms release of US prisoner

  In this image provided by the U.S. State Department, Michael White holds an American flag as he poses for a photo Thursday, June 4, 2020, with U.S. special envoy for Iran Brian Hook at the Zurich, Switzerland, airport after White’s release from Iran. White, a Navy veteran whos been detained in Iran for nearly two years has been released and is making his way home, with the first leg on a Swiss government aircraft. (U.S. State Department via AP)TEHRAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Irans Foreign Ministry on Thursday confirmed the release of U.S. prisoner Michael White, official IRNA news agency reported.White was freed by a decree of an Iranian judge for human rights considerations and left the country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted as saying.White, a U.S. Navy veteran, was detained nearly two years ago in Iran for security reasons.On Wednesday, an Iranian scientist, Sirous Asgari, held by the American authorities returned to Iran.Iran, however, denied that Asgari has been released as part of a prisoner swap with the United States.Mousavi said that the Iranian scientist was released after being acquitted of charges.

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  US says open for diplomacy with Iran as Zarif challenges Trump

  Brian Hook, U.S. special representative for Iran, speaks at a news conference in London, the UK, June 28, 2019. (Photo: CGTN)The door remains open for a wider negotiation with Iran about its nuclear program and other issues, but so far talks have been limited to prisoner releases, U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Friday."(U.S. President Donald Trump) has had the door open to diplomacy for many years and in the same time frame, he has met (DPRK leader) Kim Jong Un three times. So, we would like to see the (Iranian) regime meet our diplomacy with diplomacy," he told reporters a day after Iran freed U.S. citizen Michael White.A glimmer of hope for Iran and the U.S. to amend ties has resurfaced after what appears to be a tacit prisoner exchange took place. On Wednesday, an Iranian materials science professor returned home after being acquitted of stealing trade secrets in the United States. This was followed by the release of Michael White, an American who was sentenced to 13 years in Iranian prison for violating privacy and insulting Irans supreme leader. White departed Iran later this week after being released temporarily on medical grounds to the Swiss embassy in March.In a post on Instagram on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed what he described as the "good news" of Asgaris return on a flight to Iran, but accused the U.S. of holding "hostage" several other Iranian scientists.While both countries denied the releases were part of a prisoner exchange, Trump has hinted about the possibility of a deal with Iran and expressed gratitude towards the countrys release of White."...Thank you to Iran. Dont wait until after U.S. election to make the Big deal," Trump said in a tweet.In a tweet on Friday, Zarif responded to Trumps message by challenging him to return to the nuclear deal that Washington abandoned two years ago. He made clear that it was Trumps ...