After more than three years of being held prisoner in Iran, Xiyue Wang is returning to the United States. A Princeton University graduate student, Mr. Wang had been held under the pretense of espionage since August 2016. We thank our Swiss partners for their assistance in negotiating Mr. Wang’s release with Iran. The highest priority of the United States is the safety and well-being of its citizens. Freeing Americans held captive is of vital importance to my Administration, and we will continue to work hard to bring home all our citizens wrongfully held captive overseas.
Opinion says
To facilitate Mr. Wang’s release, the United States freed Masoud Soleimani, an Iranian scientist arrested for violating American trade sanctions against Iran. This exchange say a lot about the state of mind of mullahs governing in Teheran.
Mullahs do not give a shit about Masoud Soleimani or anybody else for that purpose. The prisoners swap sends a powerful signal to Washington that Iran wants negotiations, it’s a signal of weakness. Sanctions do work. Squeeze them more, Donald.