Belgium, Iran conduct prisoner swap in Oman, freeing aid worker and diplomat convicted in bomb plot

Published May 26, 2023 5:23 AM

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Belgium and Iran have conducted a prisoner exchange in Oman. Officials said Friday that Tehran released a Belgian aid worker in exchange for an Iranian diplomat convicted of trying to bomb a meeting of exiles in France. The initial announcement by Oman’s Foreign Ministry did not identify the prisoners being swapped. However, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement that the aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, had been freed. Iranian state television later said in an on-screen graphic that the diplomat, named Assadollah Assadi, would be freed.

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