[앵커]
Amid a long deadlock in negotiations to restore the Iranian nuclear deal, Iran says it has agreed to a prisoner exchange with the United States.
However, the United States immediately refuted that it was a lie by Iran.
This is reporter Kim Tae-hyun’s report.
[기자]
Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian told state television that an initial agreement had been reached with the United States for a prisoner exchange.
Iran said all preparations were made and the US side was busy with final technical preparations, hoping that the prisoners would be exchanged soon.
[호세인 아미르압둘라히안 : 이란 외무장관 (12일, IRIB 이란 국영방송 출연) : 포로 교환 문제에 대해 이란과 미국은 며칠 사이 초기 합의에 도달했습니다.]
It was also added that the two sides indirectly signed and approved the prisoner exchange document in March of last year on a humanitarian basis.
Iran has previously offered a prisoner exchange several times during talks to restore the nuclear deal.
Foreign media reported that the United Nations, Qatar and Switzerland mediated the prisoner exchange negotiations.
However, the US has completely denied the Iranian allegations.
A State Department spokeswoman said, “This is yet another lie that adds to the suffering of the families of the detainees.”
A spokesman for the White House National Security Council also criticized Iran, saying it was “false” that it had agreed to release US citizens wrongfully detained.
Negotiations between the two sides attracted attention in connection with the issue of Iran’s frozen funds in Korea of 7 billion dollars.
Some Iranian media reported last week that the frozen funds would also be released along with the prisoner exchange issue.
This is YTN Kim Tae-hyun.
YTN Kim Tae-hyun (kimth@ytn.co.kr)
※ ‘Your report becomes news’
[카카오톡] Search YTN and add a channel
[전화] 02-398-8585
[메일] social@ytn.co.kr
[저작권자(c) YTN 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
