US-Iran Prisoner Swap Deal Separate to Other Iran Issues: State Department

State Department Spokesperson Principal Deputy Vedant Patel speaks with reporters during a press briefing at the Department of State in Washington on July 27, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The matter surrounding the American hostages detained in Iran is separate from the other issues surrounding the Islamic Republic, said the State Department on Aug. 17.

At the State Department press briefing, in response to a question from The Epoch Times about whether Iran helping Russia produce drones for its war in Ukraine will complicate negotiations to secure freedom for the hostages currently under house arrest, Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the two are not related.