Deal in Works to Release Americans Detained in Iran
EmailA deal is in the works to gain the release of four American civilians being detained in Iran, U.S. intelligence officials tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com. The officials say the appearance of two of the Americans on Iranian television this week was "part of the process." A U.S. State Department spokesman said he was unaware of any deal but said, "I hope it is true." Earlier this week, the State Department said it was "appalled at the mistreatment" of the two Americans who were "paraded" on state-run television. Like almost every dealing between the U.S. and Iran, this one touches on the sensitive and volatile issue of nuclear weapons and sanctions. Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage. The U.S. officials told ABCNews.com that a European country is brokering the deal, which they say Iran hopes will help delay a third set of sanctions being considered by the United Nations Security Council over Iran’s refusal to halt its nuclear program. Three of the Americans are being held in an Iranian prison and a fourth, Parnaz Azima, of the U.S.-funded Radio Farda, has been released on a $50,000 bail. Iran has previously admitted holding Haleh Esfandiari, of the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Center; Ali Shakeri, a California businessman; and Kian Tajbakhsh, a consultant for the Soros Open Society Institute. The officials say a fifth American, former FBI agent Robert Levinson, is not part of the deal. Levinson disappeared in Iran in March. U.S. officials believe he is in a Tehran prison although Iran has never acknowledged he is in custody. Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
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Rush is going to follow Reagan’s lead buy selling arms to Iran? They need spare parts for their aging Tomcats.
Posted by: Mike Johnson | July 19, 2007, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm
I hope they get release soon. Their so called “confession” was a joke.
Posted by: Farzad | July 19, 2007, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
For anyone who thinks American leadership is corrupt, you have yet to taste corrupt leadership ‘middle-eastern’ style.
Iran’s secret Islamic police has a nasty way of not only making you disappear, but can make you reappear with a rope around your neck.
It’s a neat trick some of you liberals may want to pay attention to the next time you want to show more sympathy for murders than patience for those who have defended your freedoms.
Posted by: James | July 19, 2007, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Rush?! As in Rush Limbaugh or the rock band?
Posted by: Jazz | July 19, 2007, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
Words from another brainwashed conservative. I’m a liberal who served in the army. As American soldiers we were trained not to abuse prisoners.
You’re right. Human life has little value in many counties like Sudan and Iran. As a liberal, I’ve never had sympathy for the Iranian government. I know they don’t represent all Iranian people.
A soldier is expected to have discipline. Soldiers wear a uniform that represents all Americans. To be the shining city on the hill, America can’t let terrorist define humanity for us.
Posted by: Mike Johnson | July 20, 2007, 12:44 am 12:44 am
All terrorist should be eliminated from the globe. Iran has sheltered and provide traning facilities to the terroorist and even they are planning to hand over the nuke arm to the terrorist . Should the world community looking it hopelessly. It is the high time to act and eliminate the terrorist and its promoters without further dealy . Good sense should prevail on peace loving people of world.
Posted by: bajo | July 20, 2007, 2:11 am 2:11 am
Iran has violated all the humanatarian values and civilised norms . They should release the US citizens without further delay . Unauthorised confinement of another country’s citizen is a great crime . How the Iranian Govvernment has dared to to like this. These coutries are creating troubles all the time and try to justify as they right. But they will not be forgive by the mankind.
Posted by: bajo | July 20, 2007, 2:23 am 2:23 am
The problem with this so-called Iranian-American violates the State Department travel warnings to certain countries as being dangerous yet they still go. Probably to make a fast buck. When they get in trouble they expect the government to bail them out. I say let them stay there.
Posted by: marc | July 20, 2007, 11:52 am 11:52 am
I wonder how much this is going to cost the US? Or what kind of deal is going on behind the scenes?
Posted by: Jerry M | July 25, 2007, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
James just out of curiousity how many times have you been to Iran? I’m a moderate leaning to the left and I really would like it if you don’t tell me what Iran is like because you don’t know… Not that the police there don’t make you dissapear, I just don’t want to hear it from a know it all who really knows nothing… Thanks and have a nice day…
Posted by: Matt | July 26, 2007, 9:56 am 9:56 am
I agree that Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and who knows what other country is evil and threats people MEAN. That does not give our corrupt president and vice president any excuse for their crimes and evil steps they take every chance they get.
Posted by: Vicki | July 31, 2007, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
Remarkable to see an entire story about negotiations for the release of the five Americans being held in Iran without a single mention of the five Iranians kidnaped by the U.S. from Irbil in northern Iraq early this year.
The U.S. government has held the Iranians incommunicado, with no charges or pretense of same, and no information on their location.
Surely the release of these men is part of any deal? Even if not, a story in which these facts are ignored can hardly be called “reporting”.
Posted by: Nell | August 1, 2007, 4:56 am 4:56 am
they are probably holding them for terrorist activity, why are they in Iraq? Think about it.
Posted by: matt | August 2, 2007, 10:04 am 10:04 am
I applaud the US government for it’s diligent efforts to bring these four people back home where they belong. However, they are totally dragging their feet where Bob Levinson is concerned. Why not demand that he be returned along with the other four?
Posted by: Bryan | August 6, 2007, 6:20 am 6:20 am