- US-bound plane leaves Doha with five Americans freed by Iran

A rare deal between the United States and Iran resulted in the release of five Americans and the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds. The U.S.-bound plane carrying the Americans left Doha on Monday, and U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his joy at their return. The White House confirmed that the five Americans, along with two family members, were en route to the United States for medical treatment. In a separate development, five Iranians held by the United States were also freed, with two of them returning to Tehran and the other three choosing not to go back. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi described the exchange as a humanitarian action that could potentially lead to future similar actions. The article highlights that it remains uncertain whether this exchange will lead to progress on other contentious issues between the two nations, such as Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed openness to future diplomacy on the nuclear file but did not indicate any immediate plans. Analysts expressed skepticism about the likelihood of progress on these issues. The article also mentions that U.S. President Biden announced fresh sanctions on Iran’s former president and its intelligence ministry. The article concludes by providing information about the individuals involved in the prisoner swap and the journalists who contributed to the report.