Shaul Shay
(Senior research fellow at the International Institute for Counter-terrorism (ICT) at the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya and former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council)
Copyright: @ 2023 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 24 September 2023
Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies
On September 18, 2023, U.S. and Iran finalized a prisoner swap after two years of negotiations through Qatar and Oman. Iran released five detained Americans accused of espionage in exchange for five Iranian nationals charged with sanctions violations and other federal crimes. In addition, Iran was given access to about $6 billion of funds previously held in South Korea. President Biden thanked the governments of Qatar, Oman, Switzerland and South Korea for their assistance in securing the releases.[ Henry Rome, The Iran Hostage Deal: Clarifying the $6 Billion Transfer, The Washington Institute, Policy Watch 3784, September 18, 2023.]... Read more