None Of The Iranian Inmates From Prisoner Swap Have Returned To Iran: Three Staying In U.S. Indefinitely, Four In Locations Unknown

None of the seven Iranian men released in the prisoner swap between the United States and Iran have returned to their embattled country. It was reported that none of the former inmates showed up for their flight to Switzerland that would take them back to Iran. Instead, three of the men are staying with family members in the United States with no plans to return to the Islamic Republic. The other four Iranian prisoners are in locations currently unknown, but also failed to appear for their flight back to Iran.

The Daily Mail reports that none of the seven Iranian inmates released during the prisoner swap have returned to Iran. Instead, all seven of the men appear to still be in the United States with at least three of them saying they have no intention of leaving the U.S. Records indicate that six of the seven inmates released during the prisoner swap had dual American-Iranian citizenship. All seven were in prison for charges related to violating strict trade embargo restrictions in regards to selling products to Iran.

It was noted that the seven men were imprisoned after they were convicted of doing business with Iran despite the trade embargo for selling sensitive equipment to the Islamic Republic. Three of the men released in the prisoner swap, 69-year-old Bahram Mechanic, 72-year-old Khosrow Afghahi, and 46-year-old Tooraj Faridi, were charged with conspiring with one another to sell equipment and supplies that the Iranian government that could be used “in a wide range of military systems, including surface-air and cruise missiles.”

The lawyers for Mechanic, Afghahi and Faridi say that the three men did not show up to their schedule flight into Switzerland to return to Iran because they have no intention of going back to the Islamic Republic. Instead, the three men are still in the United States spending time with their families. All three men appear to be back in Texas with their family members. David Gerger, the lawyer for Afghahi says that his client poses no threat to public safety and that the pardon was “the right decision.” He says that Afghahi is now spending time in Texas with his family and enjoying his freedom.

“Right now, Mr. Afghahi is spending some precious time with his family in the United States… and probably getting the first good night sleep and hot cup of coffee he’s had in nine months.”

Lawyers for Mechanic and Faridi also report that their clients are still in the United States staying with family in Texas. Faridi’s lawyer went so far as to say his client has no intention of ever leaving the United States. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the other four Iranian prisoners released in the prisoner swap is unknown. However, it is known that they did not make their flight back to Iran.

The other four prisoners faced similar charges ranging from selling goods to Iran in face of the trade embargo to one individual, Nader Modanlo, a naturalized U.S. citizen, who helped Iran launch its first satellite into orbit. Modanlo was sentenced to eight years for his crime of helping Iran. Though the Iranian prisoners do not appear to be returning home, four of the five Americans released in the prisoner exchange have already returned back to American soil.

The American prisoners who returned to the U.S. in the exchange include Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, former U.S. Marine Amir Hekmati, Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, and student Matthew Trevithick who was finishing a four-month language program at an institute associated with Tehran University when he was detained. However, the fifth American released in the prisoner exchange, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, has elected to remain in Iran. Information regarding Khosravi-Roodsari’s detainment is widely unknown with Obama skirting over the issue in her public address noting only that the America was detained “unjustly.” One senior official said he cannot release any additional information about the mystery American prisoner stating “privacy considerations” keep them from giving more details.

“When it comes to Roodsari, privacy considerations preclude us from offering any more details. It’s his free determination where he wants to go. We don’t make that judgment for him.”

What do you think about the fact that all seven of the Iranian prisoners released in the prisoner exchange are still in the United States? Does it surprise you that one American chose to stay in Iran following their “unjust” detainment?

[Photo by Laurent Cipriani/AP Photo]