Zarif says 'negotiating table is there'
Speaking to journalists at the Iranian mission to the UN, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif revealed details about correspondence with the Donald Trump administration over a potential prisoner exchange.
NEW YORK — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged today that he had received a letter from Robert C. O’Brien, US special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, asking for the release of detained US citizens.
Zarif’s confirmation that he had received the US envoy's letter comes after he publicly proposed a prisoner swap yesterday, and said he was authorized to negotiate such an exchange.
He also said he had privately proposed a prisoner swap to the Trump administration six months ago, but had received no response.
Asked by Al-Monitor if he had not received a letter from O’Brien, Zarif acknowledged that he had, but portrayed the letter as one-sided.
