Switzerland welcomes agreement on releasing Iranian and American prisoners
Bern, 17.01.2016 - Switzerland welcomes the agreement between Iran and the United States which has made possible the release of eleven prisoners. At the request of both parties, Switzerland provided its good offices to facilitate the conclusion of the agreement.
After 14 intensive months of confidential talks in Switzerland, on 17 January 2016 the United States and Iran agreed to mutually release a total of eleven prisoners and to drop all legal charges against other persons. Switzerland facilitated the negotiation, conclusion and implementation of the agreement, and played an active role as part of its good offices to bring about the release of prisoners and dropping of charges against citizens from both countries.
Thanks to these efforts, the following men were released from prison: Afghahi, Faridi, Ghahreman, Golestaneh, Modanlo, Mechanic and Saboonchi in the United States, and Abedini, Hekmati, Rezaian and Khosravi-Roodsari in Iran. A Swiss aircraft with a representative of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA and doctors on board brought back three of the American prisoners detained in Iran as well as the mother and wife of one of the three men. The aircraft is expected to land late Sunday afternoon. The five passengers will then travel to a US base in Germany.
Switzerland congratulates the United States and Iran on the conclusion of the agreement and is very pleased with the prisoner exchange, which contributes to the potential rapprochement of the two countries after decades of tension.
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