The 5-on-5 procedure is scheduled to begin this week.
The United States and Iran with the mediation of Qatar this week will be ready to start the procedure of exchange of prisoners on the formula "5 on 5". This is reported by Reuters, citing sources familiar with the talks between the countries.
Five U.S. citizens with dual citizenship will be exchanged for five Iranians who are imprisoned in the States.
The first step toward a deal on Iran's part was the transfer in August of four U.S. citizens who were under house arrest in a Tehran prison. One U.S. citizen was already under such restraint by that time.
The identities of two of the men have not been released, but the names of three are known. They are businessmen Siamak Namazi and Emad Sharqi, and environmentalist Morad Tahbaz.
The prisoner exchange is due to take place in Qatar. Also this week, six billion dollars from South Korea will flow into Qatari banks. These are blocked Iranian funds. Tehran initially wanted direct access to this money, but later agreed to access it through Doha.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department is not giving an exact timeline for the citizens' exchange.
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