“The US has arrested tens of innocent Iranians under the pretext of circumventing its cruel and inhumane sanctions,” Qaribabadi tweeted on Thursday.
“The last two are Messrs Sarhangpour and Attar-Kashani. All innocent Iranians must be freed – effective immediately,” he added.
He also said that Sarhangpour is held under dire humanitarian conditions and was forced to pay the rent for the apartment in which he is placed under arrest.
Sarhangpour’s access to emergency medical care is denied and he has been forced to pay the exorbitant treatment costs, the official stated, calling it “Barbaric”.
The remarks came after Iran announced it's ready to swap prisoners with the United States, calling on President Joe Biden's administration to act instead of performing theatrical shows.
"Iran has repeatedly announced to the United States through different channels that it is ready to address the issue of prisoners independently of the issue of the JCPOA," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana'ani said on Wednesday, reffering to the 2015 nuclear deal, officialy known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Some Iranians are in US jails just because of ignoring Washington's illegal sanctions on Tehran.
He declared Tehran’s readiness for the immediate implementation of the existing agreement with Washington on releasing prisoners, noting the US must release jailed Iranian citizens without any conditions.
"Tehran is ready to get the innocent Iranians imprisoned in the United States, those who have become victims of injustice by the judicial system of that country on false charges of violating the cruel and illegal Washington's sanctions, released and make their quick freedom and return to the open arms of their families possible," the spokesman added.
"“It is surprising that the US, instead of acting and removing the obstacles in this field, is only performing propaganda shows against Iran,” he noted.
US officials have recently called on Iran to release American prisoners held in the country.
Tehran has numerously urged Washington to free Iranian nationals who have been taken hostage for baseless reasons under the pretext that they have bypassed and violated the US sanctions. Iran has also blasted the US for linking a humanitarian exchange of prisoners with the talks over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Despite the media hype by Washington officials, no direct negotiations have been held between Iran and the US over the issue recently.