The United States and Iran have each freed a prisoner in a rare act of co-operation between two longtime foes.
The United States and Iran have each freed a prisoner in a rare act of co-operation between two longtime foes whose ties have worsened since US President Donald Trump took office.
Freed US prisoner Xiyue Wang and US State Department's Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook in Zurich, Switzerland.Switzerland facilitated the swap. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met Soleimani in Zurich, state news agency IRNA said and it later reported Soleimani's arrival in Iran.
"Freeing Americans held captive is of vital importance to my administration, and we will continue to work hard to bring home all our citizens wrongfully held captive overseas," Trump said."Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly. Many thanks to all engaged, particularly the Swiss government," Zarif tweeted.
"We're hopeful this will lead us to further success with Iran," he told reporters in a conference call. Soleimani was arrested at Chicago airport in October 2018 over US allegations he tried to export biological materials to Iran in violation of sanctions imposed by Washington because of its nuclear program.
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