White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan announced on Tuesday that the United States remains confident in the progress toward an understanding with Iran regarding the release of five U.S. citizens. However, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for this development.
On August 10, Iran initiated the first step of a deal by placing four imprisoned U.S. citizens under house arrest, joining a fifth individual who was already confined to their residence. This agreement is linked to the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds held in South Korea, and ultimately, the release of these five citizens from the Islamic Republic.
Sullivan addressed reporters in a conference call, stating, “We believe that things are proceeding according to the understanding that we’ve reached with Iran. I don’t have an exact timetable for you because there’s steps that need to yet unfold. But we believe that that remains on track.”
The eventual departure of these five individuals from Iran, a process that may span several weeks, would alleviate a significant point of contention between Washington and Tehran. The two nations continue to have disagreements on various issues, ranging from the Iranian nuclear program to Iran’s support for Shiite militias in the region.
The U.S. citizens who were permitted to leave Iran’s Evin prison on August 10 include businessmen Siamak Namazi (51) and Emad Shargi (58), along with environmentalist Morad Tahbaz (67), who also holds British nationality. The identities of the fourth U.S. citizen who departed the prison and the fifth individual already under house arrest have not been disclosed to the public.
