Austrian and Danish Citizens Released from Iranian Prison with Assistance from Oman and Belgium.
Two Austrian-Iranian citizens and a Danish man have been released from prison in Iran, as confirmed by their respective governments. The Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, expressed great relief at the freedom of Kamran Ghaderi and Massud Mossaheb, acknowledging the years of difficult imprisonment they endured in Iran.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, shared his happiness and relief at the return of a Danish citizen to their family in Denmark after being held captive in Iran. The specific identity of the individual was not disclosed, respecting the person’s privacy and emphasizing that it is a personal matter with limited details to be shared.
Both Schallenberg and Løkke Rasmussen extended their gratitude to Belgium and Oman for their invaluable support in securing the release of the prisoners, although the exact nature of this support was not specified. Belgium’s involvement in a recent prisoner exchange with Iran, which returned an Iranian diplomat convicted of terrorism-related charges and facilitated the return of a Belgian aid worker, was also acknowledged.
At present, there is no immediate information regarding what Iran may have gained in exchange for the recent releases.
Role of Sultan of Oman in the Process
These releases followed the visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman to Iran, marking his first trip to the country since assuming leadership in 2020. The visit likely played a significant role in facilitating the release of the prisoners.
Background on the Imprisoned Individuals
Kamran Ghaderi, an Iranian-Austrian businessman, had been detained in 2016 and subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison on allegations of spying for the United States—a claim vehemently rejected by his supporters. His family had criticized Austria for their silence on his case in recent years.
Massud Mossaheb, another Iranian-Austrian businessman, was arrested in 2019 and received a 10-year prison sentence following a trial condemned by Amnesty International as grossly unfair, citing vague charges related to national security. Amnesty International had also expressed concerns about Mossaheb’s health, as he suffered from heart failure and diabetes, making his imprisonment particularly perilous.
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