US calls Iran’s prisoner swap declare a ‘merciless lie’

Nonetheless, in an interview Sunday with Iranian state tv, Amirabdollahian claimed that Iran had “reached an settlement in latest days concerning the alternate of prisoners between Iran and the USA.”

“If every little thing goes nicely on the American’s facet, I feel we are going to see the alternate of prisoners within the quick time period,” he added. He alleged a doc between Iran and the U.S. laying out the alternate had been “not directly signed and permitted” since March 2022.

Reached by The Related Press, U.S. State Division spokesperson Ned Value known as the feedback “one other particularly merciless lie that solely provides to the struggling of their households.”

“We’re working relentlessly to safe the discharge of the three wrongfully detained Individuals in Iran,” Value stated. “We won’t cease till they’re reunited with their family members.”

A separate assertion from the White Home’s Nationwide Safety Council additionally known as the remarks “false.”

“Sadly, Iranian officers won’t hesitate to make issues up, and the most recent merciless declare will trigger extra heartache for the households of Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz,” the council stated, naming the three Individuals recognized to be held by Tehran on broadly disputed espionage prices.

Iran lengthy has taken prisoners with Western passports or ties to make use of in negotiations with overseas nations.

The proof in opposition to them has by no means been made public. The detainees all have twin U.S.-Iranian citizenship, one thing Tehran doesn’t acknowledge.

In latest days, nevertheless, Namazi was allowed to conduct an interview with CNN from Tehran’s infamous Evin jail — one thing that may not have occurred with out the acquiescence of safety forces.

In the meantime, Ali Bagheri Kani, a deputy Iranian overseas minister who has dealt with nuclear talks with world powers, made a visit Sunday to Oman, a longtime interlocutor between Tehran and Washington.

Amirabdollahian’s feedback additionally come after Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Chinese language mediation, introduced Friday they might reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies after a seven-year freeze in relations.

Related Press author Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.