Friday Jun 13, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News World News

Iran frees American, US allows dual citizen to visit Iran in deal

Iran's decision to release American Michael White and the US move to let dual citizen Majid Taheri visit Iran, both of which were confirmed by Iran's foreign minister, appear to be a rare instance of US-Iranian cooperation.

by  Reuters and ILH Staff
Published on  06-05-2020 16:00
Last modified: 06-05-2020 10:17
Iran frees American, US allows dual citizen to visit Iran in dealUS State Department/Handout via Reuters

Michael White, a freed US Navy veteran detained in Iran since 2018, poses with US Special Envoy for Iran Brian Hook while on his return to the United States at Zurich Airport in Zurich, Thursday | Photo: US State Department/Handout via Reuters

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A US Navy veteran who said he contracted the coronavirus while detained in Iran since 2018 was freed on Thursday as part of a deal in which the United States allowed an Iranian-American physician to visit Iran, his lawyer and a US official said.

Iran's decision to release American Michael White and the US move to let dual citizen Majid Taheri visit Iran, both of which were confirmed by Iran's foreign minister, appeared to be a rare instance of US-Iranian cooperation.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

A White House spokesman expressed hope that White's release could lead to an opening in the bitter relationship.

The two nations are at odds on a host of issues including the US decision, in the wake of Iranian belligerence, to abandon a deal to curb the country's nuclear program and impose crippling economic sanctions on Tehran, as well as their jockeying for influence across the Middle East.

White had been released from an Iranian prison in mid-March after being sentenced in 2019 for an unspecified offense, but had remained in Iran in the custody of Switzerland, which represents US interests in Iran since the two cut diplomatic ties shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"I'm improving. I did contract coronavirus in the Mashhad central prison prior to going out on furlough. But I'm recovering pretty decently," White told Fox News Channel on the tarmac of Zurich airport, adding he had been "in poor shape."

"I feel all right, and happy to be back," White said, thanking US President Donald Trump "for his efforts both diplomatically and otherwise, making America great again." He also thanked the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.

"I just got off the phone with former American hostage Michael White, who is now in Zurich after being released from Iran. He will be on a US plane shortly, and is COMING HOME," Trump said on Twitter.

"Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!" Trump added.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed it played a role in what it called "the humanitarian gesture" on White and Taheri and said it "stands ready" to help further.

The negotiations to get White released followed several months of discussions with Iran, said a person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Taheri's lawyer said Taheri would visit family in Iran and seek medical treatment before returning to the United States. He has pleaded guilty to violating US sanctions, the lawyer added.

The deal is a rare bright spot in an otherwise deeply frayed relationship that has grown more hostile since Trump took office in 2017.

Asked whether White's release could be an opening in terms of US-Iranian relations, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told Fox News Channel: "Hopefully so."

US-Iranian relations have been bitter since the Islamic Revolution toppled the US-backed Shah of Iran in 1979 and Iranian revolutionaries stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Tensions flared after Trump pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed US sanctions, and worsened after a Jan. 3 US drone strike in Iraq killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's Quds Force.

Both nations have called for the release of prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak. Iran is one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East, while the United States has reported the world's highest number of deaths and infections.

White's release came two days after the United States deported Sirous Asgari, an Iranian professor imprisoned in the United States despite being acquitted on charges of stealing trade secrets. Iranian media reported his arrival on Wednesday.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The US State Department and Iranian officials have denied Asgari was part of a swap with White or anyone else, calling his case separate.

Last December, Washington and Tehran worked on a prisoner exchange in which Iran freed US citizen Xiyue Wang, who had been held for three years on spying charges, and the United States freed Iranian Massoud Soleimani, who faced charges of violating US sanctions on Iran.

Tags: Donald TrumpIran

Related Posts

How does pizza predict when America goes to war?AP, Reuters

How does pizza predict when America goes to war?

by ILH Staff

The Pentagon's "pizza index" has tracked late-night delivery spikes to predict military action since the 1980s; "Bottom line for journalists...

'Massacre performance' in Belgium sparks outrageNone

'Massacre performance' in Belgium sparks outrage

by Nissan Shtrauchler

Belgium’s parliament is set to debate on a controversial performance staged in central Brussels that simulated the murder of Jewish...

Finance minister hampers procurement efforts, affecting critical munitionsIDF Spokesperson's Unit

Pentagon cuts F-35 order in half for 2025 budget

by Erez Linn

The Defense Department’s decision to halve the order has not been accompanied by an official explanation, and neither Lockheed Martin...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il