US Denies Iran’s Claims of Prisoner, Cash Swap; UK Downplays

A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a group picture with foreign ministers and representatives of the U.S., Iran, China, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and the European Union during the Iran nuclear talks at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria, on July 14, 2015. Carlos Barria/Reuters

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The United States on May 2 immediately denied a report by Iranian state-run television that deals had been reached for the Islamic Republic to release U.S. and British prisoners in exchange for Tehran receiving billions of dollars.

Even after an initial American denial, an anchorwoman on Iranian state TV still repeated the announcement.