The US-Iran Prisoner Swap Deal: What You Need to Know
Earlier this month, after more than two years of closed-door negotiations, the United States and Iran agreed to a prisoner swap deal, which once implemented, will see Tehran releasing five US-Iranian citizens in exchange for the release of several Iranians jailed in the US, and access to billions of dollars in frozen funds.
Questions About the Timing
But questions about why the deal is only happening now, when some of the prisoners have been in jail for years, continue to linger.
Controversy Surrounding the Deal
Some critics have charged the US with giving into Iranian “blackmail” by agreeing to the deal. US Republican Senator Tom Cotton accused President Joe Biden of a “craven act of appeasement” that would “embolden” Iranian leaders. However, experts argue that Iran’s struggling economy and the need to access frozen funds were significant factors in the deal.
Criticism and Dissent
Not everyone in the US is pleased with the deal, particularly family members of Shahab Dalili, a US permanent resident who has not been included in the exchange. Despite criticism, Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured that the US was constantly reviewing cases of unlawful detentions in Iran.
Impact on US-Iran Relations
While the immediate focus of the deal is on freeing detained individuals and accessing frozen funds, experts believe that the direct lines of communication opened through this negotiation are significant. However, the deal is unlikely to drastically change future relations between the US and Iran, given the underlying issues and existing sanctions.
