DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Oman said Friday a prisoner swap between Belgium and Iran was underway.
The announcement by Oman state television did not identify the prisoners being swapped. Iran and Belgium have not immediately acknowledged the swap.
“Those released were transferred from Tehran and Brussels to Muscat today, Friday, in preparation for their return to their countries,” the Omani report said. “The sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides, and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue.”
The Omani report did not identify who was being swapped in the exchange.
In January, Iran sentenced a Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele to a lengthy prison term and 74 lashes after convicting him of espionage in a closed-door trial. He also was fined $1 million.
In 2021, Belgium convicted an Iranian diplomat, Assadollah Assadi, of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Iran has detained a number of foreigners and dual nationals over the years, accusing them of espionage or other state security offenses and sentencing them following secretive trials in which rights groups say they have been denied due process.