DUBAI – In a surprise development, Iran and United States swap highprofile prisoners.
The United States and Iran each freed a prisoner on Saturday in a rareswap, an act of cooperation between two longtime foes whose ties haveworsened since President Donald Trump took office.
Trump said Xiyue Wang, a U.S. citizen held in Iran for three years onspying charges, was returning to the United States. An Iranian officialsaid that Iranian Massoud Soleimani had been freed from detention in theUnited States.
A senior U.S. administration official said Washington was hopeful thatWang’s release would lead to the freeing of other Americans held in Iranand was a sign Tehran is willing to come to the table to talk about otherissues.
Wang appeared to be in good health and humor, he said.
Switzerland facilitated the swap and Iranian state news agency IRNA saidForeign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed Soleimani in Zurich, whereit said the swap took place. It said Soleimani was expected to return toIran in the coming hours.