US accuses Iran of cruel false prisoner swap claims

The US has accused Iran of making "cruel" mendacious claims that a captive speech had been agreed betwixt the 2 countries.

Iranian overseas curate Hossein Amir-Abdollahian connected Sunday told authorities media a woody had been made, which would astir apt beryllium carried retired soon.

But a White House information spokesperson denied this, saying Iranian officials did not hesitate to "make things up".

The latest assertion would origin heartache for affected families, they added.

Mr Amir-Abdollahian told authorities TV that an statement had been reached successful the past days and "if everything goes good connected the US side, I deliberation we volition witnesser a captive speech successful a abbreviated period".

He added that Iran was ready, portion US was moving connected "final method coordination".

While insisting the assertion was false, the US spokesperson said Washington was committed to securing the merchandise of Americans held successful Iran - naming Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz.

Oil enforcement Siamak Namazi, who has dual US-Iranian citizenship, was jailed for 10 years connected charges of spying and cooperating with the US authorities successful 2016.

Emad Shargi is an Iranian-American businessman who was arrested successful 2018 portion moving for a tech concern company.

Iranian-American environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, who besides holds British citizenship, was fixed a 10-year sentence connected charges of spying for the US and undermining Iranian information successful 2019.

He released connected bail past July with an physics bracelet - with UK officials saying they were moving with the US to unafraid his "permanent release".

There person been tensions betwixt the US and Iran successful caller years since President Donald Trump pulled retired of a atomic woody and reimposed sanctions which severely damaged the Islamic republic's economy.

Iran has detained a fig of US-Iranian dual citizens and Iranians with US imperishable residency successful caller years, astir of them connected spying charges.

Tehran has sought the merchandise of much than a twelve Iranians successful the United States for years, including 7 Iranian-American dual nationals, 2 Iranians with imperishable US residency and 4 Iranian citizens with nary ineligible presumption successful the United States.

In 2019 the 2 countries conducted a captive swap which saw Chinese-American researcher Xiyue Wang released to the US portion stem compartment adept Massoud Soleimani went successful the different direction.