Release of four US prisoners unlocks £38billion for Iran
US journalist in jail for 18 months is part of prisoner exchange as UN prepares to confirm nuclear deal
THE head of the United Nations nuclear agency confirmed last night that Iran has met its obligations under a landmark deal. The announcement paves the way for an end to punitive economic sanctions against Iran, releasing a cash windfall of at least $55bn [£38bn] to the regime and came hours after a prisoner swap with the US that freed a reporter for the Washington Post.
FOUR Americans were released from Iranian jails yesterday as part of a prisoner exchange with Washington, as the United Nations was poised to confirm that Tehran had curtailed its nuclear programme in line with last year’s historic deal.
Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent who spent 18 months behind bars in Tehran, was among those freed.
American officials confirmed the releases – and prosecutors in the US simultaneously granted clemency to seven Iranians detained for allegedly breaking sanctions.
This was timed to coincide with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certifying that Iran has kept its side of the nuclear agreement signed in Vienna last July. Once this report is issued, America and its allies will then relieve Iran of all nuclear-related sanctions, including the European Union’s oil embargo and financial restrictions.
The lifting of sanctions will mark the return of an oil-rich country with 75 million people to the global economy. Iran will also receive at least $55 billion (£40 billion) of previously frozen assets lying in bank accounts across the world.
This will represent a gain of almost 14 per cent of Iran’s entire gross national product – one of the biggest windfalls in history.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, arrived in Vienna yesterday to meet his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. The two men were expected to agree the details of “implementation day” – the moment when the IAEA certifies that Iran has kept the first stage of the nuclear deal and sanctions are lifted in return.
As Mr Kerry and Mr Zarif were meeting, reports emerged of the prisoner exchange. Iran’s state media said that Jason Rezaian, 39, who holds American and Iranian nationality, was on his way home.
After being held without charge, trial or access to a lawyer for over 300 days, the journalist was accused of espionage and convicted during a secret trial in 2015.
Before yesterday’s events, Martin Baron, the editor of the Washington
Post, said that all the charges against Mr Rezaian were baseless.
“Jason is a victim – arrested without cause, held for months in isolation, without access to a lawyer, subjected to physical mistreatment and psychological abuse, and now convicted without basis,” said Mr Baron. “The only thing that has ever been clear about this case is Jason’s innocence.” Frederick Ryan, publisher of the
said last night: “We couldn’t be happier to hear the news that Jason Rezaian has been released from Evin Prison. Once we receive more details and can confirm Jason has safely left Iran, we will have more to share.”
Iran’s official media said that three other Americans – who also hold Iranian passports – had also been released. They were named as Amir Hekmati, 32, a former soldier in the US Marine Corps, Saeed Abedini, 35, a pastor, and Siamak Namazi, a businessman in his 40s.
However, a US official did not confirm Mr Namazi’s freedom, saying that another prisoner with dual nationality, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, had been released.
The prisoners were expected to fly to Switzerland aboard a Swiss plane before being taken to an American military base in Landstuhl, Germany, for medical check-ups.
US officials said seven Iranians held in US prisons would be exchanged for the four Americans. He added that the US would drop extradition proceedings against 14 Iranians.
‘Our region has been removed from the shadow of an unnecessary conflict. Today is also a good day for the world’
The sudden release of the prisoners delayed the emergence of the IAEA’s report on Iranian compliance with the nuclear agreement. Under this deal, Iran was supposed to export 98 per cent of its low-enriched uranium, place 13,400 centrifuges in storage and remove the core of the Arak heavy water reactor.
Iran is believed to have taken all of these steps over the past six months. This means that its nuclear programme has been scaled back to ensure that Iranian scientists would require at least 12 months to “breakout” and produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one bomb.
The IAEA’s confirmation that these measures have taken place will trigger the lifting of the toughest sanctions.
“All oppressive sanctions imposed against Iran will be annulled,” predicted Mr Zarif as he arrived in Vienna to meet Mr Kerry.
The Iranian foreign minister added: “Our region has been freed from the shadow of an unnecessary conflict. Today is also a good day for the world. Today will prove that we can solve important problems through diplomacy.”
Iran could produce an extra 700,000 barrels of oil per day, on top of its current output of 2.9 million barrels, according to the International Energy Agency. Once the EU’s oil embargo is lifted and financial restrictions are also abolished, Iran is expected to increase its export sales.
As well as reaping billions of dollars of extra revenues for the regime, more Iranian output would also place further downward pressure on the oil price.
In anticipation of the lifting of sanctions, Iran said yesterday that it planned to buy 114 civil aircraft from European aircraft maker Airbus.
Airbus said it was not engaging in commercial talks with Iran until sanctions had been lifted.
US Republicans expressed relief over the prisoner releases, but renewed attacks against President Barack Obama for entering into the nuclear deal.
“Essentially they get $150 billion plus seven (prisoners) and we get four people back,” Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said at a campaign event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Mr Trump said he was happy the Americans were being released, “but I will tell you it’s a disgrace that they were there for so long”.