The Islamic Republic is doing its utmost to secure the release of several Iranian nationals who are currently imprisoned in the United States on false charges of evading American sanctions, Iran’s top rights official has said.
"The primary objective behind the prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States is to secure the release of our nationals who are currently imprisoned," Secretary General of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi said on Wednesday.
It is incumbent upon the Islamic Republic to vigorously pursue the release of its citizens, especially those who have been unjustly detained under false charges, the official added.
"We will exhaust all resources available to secure their release,"Gharibabadi stressed.
In a statement last week, Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed reports that a prisoner swap deal has been reached with Washington, under which five Iranians jailed for allegedly trying to circumvent US sanctions will be released.
Five Americans imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges have also been moved to house arrest as part of the exchange deal, which also includes the unfreezing of some $6 billion in Iranian assets held overseas.
They will be freed when the deal is fully implemented, officials said.