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U.S.-Iran detainee swap deal to go ahead on Monday, says Tehran

18 September 2023 12:18 (UTC +04:00)

Tehran said a deal with its arch foe the United States for unfreezing Iranian funds worth $6 billion then swapping five detainees each would go ahead on Monday after months of talks mediated by Qatar, APA reports citing Reuters.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said the funds frozen in South Korea would be in Iran's possession on Monday, which would trigger the swap of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran for five Iranians held in the U.S.

Under the carefully choreographed deal, the five Americans, with dual nationality are expected to leave Tehran and head to Qatar's capital Doha and then from there fly to the United States, sources previously told Reuters.

In return, the five Iranians in the U.S. will be released so they can travel to Iran. However, Iranian officials and Iran's state news agency have said one of those detainees is expected to remain in the United States.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry had said on Monday it was working with all parties on the deal "to ensure smooth progress of all procedures so that it will be resolved once and for all."