Reports: Iran to Free Five American Prisoners as Part of US Deal

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The Facts

  • The White House confirmed on Thursday that five US nationals imprisoned in Iran are now under house arrest, in what has been reported as the first step in a deal between the US and Iran that will include cash and a potential prisoner swap.

  • The prisoners named included Siamak Namazi (who has been imprisoned in Iran for eight years), the British-American dual citizen Morad Tabaz, and the D.C. resident Emad Shargi. They were released from Evin Prison together with an unidentified detainee, while the fifth prisoner had already been under house arrest.


The Spin

Republican narrative

The Biden administration is giving a sponsor of terrorism billions of dollars — this can only be described as a ransom. This is yet another foreign policy blunder, as Biden is risking US taxpayers' money going towards Iran's nuclear aspirations. The US should never negotiate with terrorists, as this move will only encourage rogue actors to kidnap Americans in the knowledge that Uncle Sam will reward their illegal acts handsomely.

Democratic narrative

Ever since Trump's reckless withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the White House has been quietly pursuing rapprochement with Iran to keep the world safe. This is one of many moves of goodwill between Iran and the US made in recent weeks, as momentum to forge a new path forward increases. Not only are innocent Americans going to be freed, rising tensions between the US and Iran may now be curtailed.

Nerd narrative

There's a 2.5% chance that the US will rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal by 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.



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