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Who are the Americans freed in the Iran prisoner swap? on September 18, 2023 at 9:09 pm

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Five Americans wrongfully detained in Iran were released Monday as part of the Biden administration’s agreement with Iran to unfreeze $6 billion in funds in exchange for the prisoners’ freedom. 

The five traveled from Tehran early Monday on a Qatari plane to Doha, a senior administration official confirmed. A plane carrying the Americans to Washington is due to land Monday night. 

Those released include Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi and two others who have asked for their identities to remain private.

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The mother of Namazi and the wife of Tahbaz, who have not been able to leave Iran, traveled with the group of prisoners as well. 

In exchange for their release, the White House’s agreement granted clemency to five Iranians and issued a blanket waiver for international banks to allow the transfer of $6 billion of Iranian oil sale proceeds, frozen in South Korea to a bank in Qatar. 

All five Americans were sentenced in Iran to 10 years in prison on different spying charges.  

Who are the Americans freed in the Iran prisoner swap?

Siamak Namazi

Namazi, an 51-year-old Iranian American businessman, was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison alongside his father, Baquer, for “co-operating with a foreign enemy,” BBC News reported. Both denied the claims, BBC News said. Baquer Namazi was permitted to leave for media treatment in 2022. 

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In a statement issued on his behalf, Siamak Namazi said, “I would not be free today, if it wasn’t for all of you who didn’t allow the world to forget me.”

“Thank you for being my voice when I could not speak for myself and for making sure I was heard when I mustered the strength to scream from behind the impenetrable walls of Evin Prison,” he said.

Morad Tahbaz

Tahbaza British American conservationist of Iranian descent, was arrested in 2018 and also received a 10-year sentence, according to The Associated Press.

BBC News reported Tahbaz, 67, was arrested alongside eight other Iranian conservationists who were accused of spying after using cameras to track critically endangered wild Asiatic cheetahs. 

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Emad Shargi

Shargi, 56, was born in Iran but left the country as a child, CBS News reported. After he and his wife relocated to Iran, Shargi was detained in April 2018, released on bail and then cleared of the charges eight months later. He was arrested a second time in 2020 and sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges. 

Two unidentified prisoners

Two of the freed Americans asked to remain anonymous, though CBS News reported one of the individuals is a female former United Nations worker. 

The Associated Press contributed.

​ Five Americans wrongfully detained in Iran were released Monday as part of the Biden administration’s agreement with Iran to unfreeze $6 billion in funds in exchange for the prisoners’ freedom.  The five traveled from Tehran early Monday on a Qatari plane to Doha, a senior administration official confirmed. A plane carrying the Americans to Washington… 

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Electric Hydrogen is the green hydrogen industry’s first unicorn on October 3, 2023 at 9:37 pm

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Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take. […]

​ Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take. 

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New chair holds back military aid to Egypt after Menendez steps down on October 3, 2023 at 10:37 pm

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Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday announced that he would hold back $235 million in U.S. military financing to Egypt.

The move comes after the committee’s former chair, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), was forced to step down from the leadership position following his indictment in a New York federal court, where is alleged to have taken bribes in exchange for using his position to help Egypt’s government.

Cardin said he exercised his authority to hold the military financing for Egypt until Cairo takes meaningful steps to improve human rights conditions in the country. 

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“Congress has been clear, through the law, that the government of Egypt’s record on a range of critical human rights issues, good governance, and the rule of law must improve if our bilateral relationship is to be sustained,” Cardin said in a statement.

The chairman said that the U.S. and Egypt share strategic, long-standing interests and that the country’s stability is important to American national security interests, but improving its human rights record also must be a priority. 

Cardin called for Egypt to deliver on reforming and improving its pre-trial detention practices, to accelerate the pardon and release of political prisoners, including thousands imprisoned for their speech and association, and to provide space for human rights defenders, civil society advocates, political opposition, and independent media in Egypt.

“My hold on current funds will remain until specific human rights progress is made,” he said.

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Cardin’s move puts him in conflict with the Biden administration, which had issued a waiver to deliver the $235 million in foreign military financing to Egypt, saying it was imperative to national security. The administration withheld $85 million to express its concerns on human rights.

Cardin said he spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and said he intends to work with the Biden administration “on our shared goal of protecting and expanding human rights in Egypt.”

​ Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday announced that he would hold back $235 million in U.S. military financing to Egypt. The move comes after the committee’s former chair, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), was forced to step down from the leadership position following his indictment in a… 

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Electric Hydrogen is the green hydrogen industry’s first unicorn on October 3, 2023 at 9:37 pm

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Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take. […]

​ Investors have historically been skeptical of green hydrogen. High production costs, expensive infrastructure builds, competition with batteries and minimal government support have made the green hydrogen sector a risky bet. But at least one company, Electric Hydrogen, seems to have found a way to convince investors that its tech is a bet they should take. 

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