Iran Press/ America: President Joe Biden celebrated the release of five American prisoners from Iran on Monday.
“Today, five innocent Americans who were imprisoned in Iran are finally coming home,” Biden said.
Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Sharghi, and two unnamed citizens were released Monday as part of a deal that unfroze $6 billion of Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar and led to the release of five Iranians imprisoned in the United States.
South Korea owed Iran but had not paid the money for oil purchased before the U.S. imposed sanctions.
Biden thanked the Emir of Qatar and the Sultan of Oman for their assistance in facilitating the deal and, in an unfriendly move announced new sanctions against Iran.
“Today, we are sanctioning former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence under the Levinson Act for their involvement in wrongful detentions. And, we will continue to impose costs on Iran for their provocative actions in the region,” he said.
The president, in the statement, reminded Americans not to travel to Iran, citing a State Department warning.
224
Read More:
US prisoners being transferred to Qatari jet: Source
Iran UN Mission confirms imminent prisoner swap with US
