The Islamic Republic of Iran and United States (U.S.) have carried out a prisoner swap program in Zurich, facilitated by the Swiss Government, after months of tensions between the two nations
In a major breakthrough, the Islamic Republic of Iran and United States (U.S.) have carried out a prisoner swap program in Zurich, facilitated by the Swiss Government.
After months of tensions between Iran and U.S. over the now abandoned Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal, tensions at Strait of Hormuz and economic sanctions, the move is seen as a significant step towards a rare sign of co-operation between the two countries.
The prisoner swap included release of Princeton graduate student – Xiyue Wang from Iran and freedom of Iranian scientist – Massoud Soleimani from the U.S.
Announcing the prisoner swap on twitter, the Foreign Minister of Iran – Javad Zarif tweeted, “Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr. Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly. Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government.”
Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr. Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly. Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government. pic.twitter.com/1TeZUL0CDG
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 7, 2019
The President of U.S. – Donald Trump said in a statement issued by the White House, “Mr. Wang had been held under the pretense of espionage since August 2016.”
He added, “We thank our Swiss partners for their assistance in negotiating Mr. Wang’s release with Iran.”
The President of U.S. – Donald Trump thanked Iran in a tweet and also took it as an opportunity to highlight the achievements of his Governments by saying that the rescued U.S. citizen was captured during the regime of Former President of U.S. – Barack Obama and was released during his leadership. The move gains significance as U.S. is gearing up for the Presidential poll is in 2020.
Trump tweeted, “Taken during the Obama Administration (despite $150 Billion gift), returned during the Trump Administration. Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation. See, we can make a deal together!”
Taken during the Obama Administration (despite $150 Billion gift), returned during the Trump Administration. Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation. See, we can make a deal together! https://t.co/rZaY9p8xzV
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2019
He also tweeted, “The United States will not rest until we bring every American wrongfully detained in Iran and around the world back home to their loved ones!”
The United States will not rest until we bring every American wrongfully detained in Iran and around the world back home to their loved ones! https://t.co/2kWgJhvrtY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2019
Wang was imprisoned in Iran from 2016 to 2019 after being accused of espionage. A Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History at Princeton University, he was arrested in Iran on charges of espionage while he was conducting research on the Qajar dynasty.[3] It was alleged that he sought access to confidential areas of Tehran libraries, paid thousands of dollars for access, and recorded 4,500 pages of digital documents. On July 2017, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Iran.
On the other hand, Soleimani who worked in stem cell research, haematology and regenerative medicine, was arrested by U.S. authorities in December 2018, on charges he had violated trade sanctions by trying to have biological material brought to Iran.
Expressing happiness over the prison swap, the wife of Wang – Hua Qu, Wang’s said, “Our family is complete once again. Our son Shaofan and I have waited three long years for this day and it’s hard to express in words how excited we are to be reunited with Xiyue. We are thankful to everyone who helped make this happen.”
For the records, the tensions between Iran and U.S. flared up after the U.S. abandoned the JCPOA deal in 2018. The deal was reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015, between Iran, the P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, U.K., U.S. – plus Germany) and European Union (E.U.). As per the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, and reduce by about 2/3rd the number of its gas centrifuges for 13 years. For the next 15 years Iran was required only to enrich uranium up to 3.67%.
The relations got worse when Iran, in response to U.S.’s withdrawal, produced low-enriched uranium beyond the permissible limits of JCPOA. Post this, the relations turned hostile after Iran claimed they have downed a U.S. drone on June 20, 2019 over the Strait of Hormuz. This was followed by downing of an Iranian drone by USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship of U.S. Navy, on July 19, 2019, in the Strait of Hormuz.
Further to this, Trump announced to imposed sanctions on countries who import oil from Iran. Iran is the South Asian nation’s 3rd largest supplier of crude oil, after Iraq and Saudi Arabia. China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey are the biggest importer of Iranian oil. Iran has accused U.S. of promoting economic terrorism against it. Further, Iran is experiencing civil unrest, owing to an announcement by Government to increase the prices of petrol by 50% and has put a capping on the sale of fuel.
