Iran ready for full prisoner exchange with US, says Foreign Minister Javed Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Javed Zarif, on September 22, said country was ready for a full prisoner exchange with United States. Addressing a virtual Council on Foreign Relations in New York, 60-year-old minister also accused Washington of wrongly detaining Iranian citizens. Although, both Iran and US have been overtly critical of each or, y did hold prison exchange in 2018.

‘Prepared to exchange all of m’

“re are Iranians in US prison re are Iranians in U.S. prisons who are re only because y refuse to betray ir country (Iran). We are prepared to exchange all of m and all those who have been kept in jail. I repeat we can exchange all prisoners. Period." Zarif said.

Washington has long demanded release of American citizens including Iranian American Far-son duo Baquer and Siamak Namazi,  both of who are labelled as political prisoners by Tehran. However, Tehran has denied plea saying that all of m were being held for espion. On or hand, Tehran has claimed that its citizens in American  jails, mostly detained for breaking sanctions, are unjustly held.

Read: Iran President Rouhani Vows 'crushing Response' To US After Sanction Declaration

Read: Pompeo Says 'maximum Pressure' Campaign To Continue Until Iran Stops 'bloodshed'

'Crushing response to US'

This comes just a day after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that United States “faces defeat” in its unilateral attempt to return sanctions on Iran through snapback mechanism. After European partners of Iran nuclear deal called US declaration legally void, Rouhani vowed to “give a crushing response to America's bullying".

Iran nuclear deal was enshrined in a UNSC resolution which still names US as a participant and Trump administration has been arguing on technicality that Washington could still trigger a snapback. US State Secretary Mike Pompeo anunced on September 19 that 30-day process for return of all sanctions has ended and all provisions of UN Security Council resolution are back.

Read: UN Chief: UN Support For Reimposing Iran Sanctions w

Read: 'Piranesi': A Tale In Isolation