Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi elaborated on a “unique prisoner swap” that resulted in the release of three Iranian nationals jailed in Thailand in exchange for an Australian convict after intensive tripartite diplomatic arrangements.
Araqchi released a note on Friday, providing more details of a recent exchange of Iranian and Australian inmates,Tasnim news agency reported.
“On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, three Iranian prisoners held in Thailand were exchanged for an Australian prisoner in Tehran as a result of an intensive diplomatic work with Thailand and Australia for more than a year,” he added.
The Iranian diplomat said the prisoner swap was “unique in itself”, noting that three countries were involved in the swap and a trilateral interaction was held.
Three Iranians were released in exchange for only one foreigner. The swap was carried out at Tehran’s airport, meaning that first the three Iranians were released and arrived in Tehran, and then the Australian prisoner left the country, Araqchi said.
He added that the swap was “performed with an exclusive Australian airplane that carried the Iranian inmates to Tehran first.”
Araqchi said he went to the airport at the time of the prisoner swap to make the final arrangements and make sure that the Iranian diplomats’ year-long efforts and hundreds of hours of political consultations would yield results.
“I had the honor of receiving my three dear fellow countrymen. After the arrival of the three persons and making sure about their health, the order for the transfer of the Australian prisoner was issued,” Araqchi said.
Source: Iranian media
