Iran says prisoner exchange with US could happen soon

Iran and the United States could exchange prisoners soon if Washington shows goodwill, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, a day after Iran’s supreme leader signalled the possibility of reaching a nuclear agreement with the West.

“Regarding the issue of exchanging prisoners with America.. negotiations are ongoing through mediators…If the other party shows the same seriousness and goodwill, this can happen in the near future,” Nasser Kanaani said in a televised weekly news conference.

One of several Americans held in Iran is Siamak Namazi, a businessman with dual US-Iranian citizenship, who was sentenced in 2016 to 10 years in prison for spying and cooperating with the US government.