Zarif Speaks On Possible Prisoner Swap

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has said during a speech at the Iranian Parliament (Majles) on Sunday October 6 that 3 Iranian prisoners in other countries have been released.

The media already knew about the release of Negar Qods Kani from a U.S. prison and Reza Dehbashi’s release from an Australian prison during the past weeks. Both of them were reportedly arrested on the charges of circumventing U.S. sanctions against Iran.

However, Zarif did not name the third prisoner and the country where he or she was jailed. Zarif said the last prisoner has been freed on bail.

He added that all the three prisoners had been arrested at the United States’ request.

Iran last week released two Australian tourists it had jailed for drone photography near a nuclear site in the vicinity of the capital Tehran.

Discussing a different matter during the same speech at the Majles, Zarif said that Europe has failed to fulfil its commitments in the nuclear deal with Iran, adding that “Europeans are not in a position to withdraw from the 2005 deal” also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.

Europe had warned that the reduction of Iran’s commitment to JCPOA might lead to European signatories withdrawal from the deal.