Saturday, December 7, 2019

U.S. And Iran Agree To a Prisoner Exchange

Xiyue Wang, left, was arrested in Iran while researching Persian history for his doctoral thesis [Princeton University via Reuters]

ABC News Online: Iran-US prisoner exchange sees release of US scholar for Iranian scientist

Iran and the US have conducted a prisoner exchange that saw a detained Princeton scholar released for an Iranian scientist held by America, marking a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of tensions.

In a trade conducted in Zurich, Switzerland, Iranian officials handed over Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, detained in Tehran since 2016, for scientist Massoud Soleimani, who had faced a federal trial in Georgia.

While the exchange represents a rare win for both countries, it comes as Iran still faces crushing US sanctions and the aftermath of nationwide protests that reportedly saw over 200 people killed.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is just more proof to me that there are a lot of back-channels at work between the U.S. and Iran.

More News On The U.S. And Iran Agreeing To a Prisoner Exchange

Iran frees Chinese-American scholar for US-held scientist -- AP
United States and Iran swap prisoners in rare act of cooperation -- Reuters
Iran releases American graduate student in prisoner swap -- The Hill
American student Xiyue Wang freed in prisoner swap after three years in Iran jail -- NBC
US and Iranian men released in prisoner swap -- BBC
US scholar released in Iran, jailed Iranian scientist freed in prisoner swap -- DW
Iran frees Chinese-American scholar for US-held Iranian scientist -- Al Jazeera
U.S. hopes U.S. citizen's release means more progress possible with Iran -- Reuters
Factbox: Reactions to Iran-U.S. prisoner swap -- Reuters

1 comment:

Bob Huntley said...

It seems they are talking at one level.