A plane has left the US carrying an Iranian professor after his release from a US prison, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday.
"Hello friends. Good news. Dr Sirous Asgari is in the air on a flight back to Iran. Congratulations to his wife and family," Mr Zarif wrote in an Instagram post.
In March the minister called for Washington to release Mr Agsari, describing him as one of several Iranian scientists taken “hostage” by the United States.
Mr Agsari, a materials science professor from Tehran's Sharif University of Technology, was accused in 2016 of stealing trade secrets in violation of US sanctions on Iran while on an academic visit to Ohio.
He was acquitted in November and last month US authorities said the 59-year-old, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus in April, was expected to be deported by the United States once he received medical clearance to leave.
His release may come as part of a rare prisoner swap between the US and Iran, despite worsening relations between the two countries since US President Donald Trump exited Iran's 2015 nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the country that have battered its economy.
If a swap goes ahead, Michael White, a US navy veteran who has been detained in Iran since 2018, is a likely candidate to be exchanged. He was arrested in July 2018 and sentenced the following year to 10 years in prison after being convicted of insulting Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and posting on social media under a pseudonym.
He was released from prison in mid-March on medical furlough but remains in Iran.
Both countries, which hold a number of each other’s nationals, have recently called for them to be released amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Iran is currently battling the worst outbreak in the Middle East, with a surge in cases this week, while the US has reported the largest death toll worldwide from the disease.
The Islamic republic is holding at least five Americans, while the US has 19 Iranians in detention, according to a list compiled by AFP based on official statements and media reports. Most of those held in the US are dual nationals and charged with evading sanctions by either exporting goods to Iran or using the US financial system.
Americans and dual nationals currently known to be held by Iran include Mr White, Siamak Namazi along with his father Baquer, Morad Tahbaz, Gholam Reza Shahini and Karan Vafadari.
Despite having no formal diplomatic ties, the two countries do at times agree to prisoner swaps. Last year, Iran freed US citizen Xiyue Wang, who had been held for three years on spying charges, and the United States released Iranian Massoud Soleimani, who faced charges of violating US sanctions on Iran.
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Genesis G80 2020 5.0-litre Royal Specs
Engine: 5-litre V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 420hp
Torque: 505Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L/100km
Price: Dh260,500
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Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
RESULTS
Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.
Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.
Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.
Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.
Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.
Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.
Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0
Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.
Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.
Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.
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Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to volunteer
The UAE volunteers campaign can be reached at www.volunteers.ae , or by calling 800-VOLAE (80086523), or emailing info@volunteers.ae.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
