Oman announced On Friday a prisoner exchange between Iran and Belgium that was mediated by the Sultanate, noting that the prisoners, whose number or identity were not specified, had arrived in Muscat in preparation for their transfer to their countries.
"The Omani efforts resulted in the two sides agreeing to a deal for mutual release," the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The ministry added, "The released detainees were transferred from Tehran and Brussels to Muscat on Friday, in preparation for their return to their countries."
In the same context, Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croo announced that Iran had released aid worker Olivier Vandecastel after he had been detained for 455 days, while he was on his way to Belgium.
De Croo said: "Olivier was transferred to Amman, where he was sponsored by a team of Belgian military and diplomats, and he underwent a number of medical examinations there on Friday morning to check on his health and allow his return in the best possible conditions."
He added, "If everything goes as expected, we will be with us on Friday night."
The Belgian aid worker was arrested on February 24 in Tehran, then sentenced to 40 years in prison on charges of "espionage". The Belgian government demanded that the Iranian authorities to release him, considering that he was "innocent".
On the other hand, Iran announced that Belgium had released diplomat Assadullah Assadi.
Belgium announced last April that it was "considering" Tehran's request for the transfer of Asadi, who was sentenced in Antwerp in a terrorism case.
Asadi was sentenced in 2021 to 20 years in prison for his conviction of "terrorist assassination attempts", by planning to target a meeting of the Iranian opposition in France in 2018.
In July 2022, the Belgian Parliament approved a prisoner exchange treaty with Iran, in which the government saw an opportunity to launch Vandecastel, and the text entered into force on April 18.
Follow the latest news on Google News
