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.

“What we shared about the news last week of these five citizens released from Evin Prison and moved to house arrest, that issue is separate from all of our other issues as it relates to the Iranian regime,” he said. “And we will continue to take steps to hold the Iranian regime accountable for their malign and destabilizing activities in the region as well as, more broadly, as well.”

Mr. Patel’s response comes as The Washington Post published a report on Aug. 17, based on leaked documents, about Iran assisting Russia’s drone program called “Project Boat,” which seeks to produce 6,000 drones by 2025—an inconceivable reach. Russia has used Iranian drones inside Ukraine.

“We know quite clearly the Iranian regime is providing drones to the Russian Federation, and they’re being used in Ukraine,” said Mr. Patel.

Under house detention are Morad Tahbaz, Emad Sharghi, Siamak Namazi, and two other unidentified dual Iranian-American citizens.

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Mr. Namazi, Mr. Sharghi, Mr. Tahbaz, and one unidentified person were released on Aug. 10 from the notorious Evin Prison—which has been the subject of U.S. sanctions. The fifth person was transferred to house arrest weeks ago.

The State Department has deemed Mr. Tahbaz, Mr. Sharghi, and Mr. Namazi as being wrongfully detained.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on the evening of Aug. 10 that there is no final deal for a prisoner exchange. He also stated that Iran would not get sanctions relief in any deal and that oil revenue would be allowed to go only into restricted accounts to be used for strictly humanitarian purposes.

The United States reportedly has offered Iran $6 billion in exchange for the release of the Americans—prompting Republicans to post their views on X, formerly Twitter.

“While I welcome home wrongfully detained Americans, unfreezing $6B in #Iranian assets dangerously further incentivizes hostage taking & provides a windfall for regime aggression. The Biden Admin must punish those who use Americans as political pawns and work to end this practice,” posted Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“I welcome the release of American hostages from Iran. But President Biden’s $6 billion ransom payment only encourages the ayatollahs to take more hostages and will finance terrorist attacks against Americans and our allies,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) posted on X.

“Paying $6 billion to Iran so they’ll release hostages incentivizes criminal behavior. You cannot reward terrorists for taking Americans hostage,” posted Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.).

The $6 billion ransom payment will help Iran build nuclear weapons, support terrorism, oppress the Iranian people, and assist Russia. Biden’s appeasement and weakness embolden Iran to attack us and our allies, and facilitates Iran becoming closer than ever to nuclear weapons,” Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), who is running for president, posted on X.