For several months now, a story has been brewing about a possible prisoner exchange with Iran.
When the story first surfaced in May, the Biden administration denied any such talks were taking place.
Now, however, the Biden administration is slamming Iran for linking the exchange to the delay in nuclear talks taking place.
Someone Here is Lying
For some reason, Joe Biden continues to think that he can trust Iran.
The moment the administration denied any such prisoner swap negotiations were going on, Iran knew it had Biden over a barrel.
The administration is now calling the possible exchange a “humanitarian gesture.”
Iranian official Seyed Abbas Araghchi slammed both the US and the UK on Twitter, blowing this whole thing wide open…
US & UK need to understand this and stop linking a humanitarian exchange—ready to be implemented—with the JCPOA.
Keeping such an exchange hostage to political aims achieves neither.
TEN PRISONERS on all sides may be released TOMORROW if US&UK fulfill their part of deal. 2/2
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 17, 2021
State Department spokesperson Ned Price then issued another denial, stating, “These comments are an outrageous effort to deflect blame for the current impasse on a potential mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA.
“We stand ready to return to Vienna to complete work on a mutual return to the JCPOA once Iran has made the necessary decisions.”
Price later added, “If Iran were truly interested in making a humanitarian gesture, it would simply release the detainees immediately.”
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh called the denial by Price “outrageous.”
"Outrageous"=the US denying simple fact that "there IS an agreed deal on the matter of the detainees." Even on how to announce it.
Humanitarian swap was agreed with US & UK in Vienna-separate from JCPOA- on release of 10 prisoners on all sides.
Iran is ready to proceed TODAY.
— Saeed Khatibzadeh (@SKhatibzadeh) July 18, 2021
See, Joe, this is what happens when you get into bed with snakes.
Sources: The Hill, AP, & Reuters