Tehran releases former U.S. military detained since 2018

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A former U.S. military man arrested nearly two years ago in Iran has just been released, his family said, information also confirmed by Donald Trump. This release comes after that of an Iranian scientist detained in the United States for three years, for espionage. 

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"  The nightmare is finally over,  " said the mother of Michael White, detained for 683 days, almost two years, in Iran. This former American soldier had been arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison for insulting the Supreme Guide. 

In mid-March, he was released from prison for medical reasons and was entrusted to the Swiss embassy which represents American interests in Iran. Michael White was finally able to leave the country on Thursday to find his family, rejoiced Donald Trump without providing more details, on a possible exchange of prisoners. The American president even thanked Iran, saying that "  it shows that an agreement is possible  ".

Because this release comes only a few hours after the repatriation to Tehran of an Iranian scientist , Cyrous Asgari, detained for almost three years in the United States, for espionage. Accused in 2016 of theft of industrial secrets, the scientist was acquitted in November 2019. But he remained imprisoned in the United States for reasons apparently linked to immigration.

Several Iranian and American prisoners remain in each country, while relations between Washington and Tehran continue to deteriorate. 

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• Iran
• United States

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