Iran’s Foreign Ministry has issued a travel advisory that warns Iranian nationals, particularly scientists, about visiting the United States, citing arbitrary and lengthy detention in inhuman conditions in US. “Iranian citizens, particularly elites and scientists, are requested by the ministry to seriously avoid visiting America, advisory came even not to take part in scientific conferences.
“Iranian citizens, particularly elites and scientists, are requested to seriously avoid travelling to America, even to take part in scientific conferences and even having an invitation,” said the foreign ministry website issuing travel advisory.
The ministry further cited, “America’s cruel and one-sided laws toward Iranians, especially Iranian elites, and arbitrary and lengthy detention in completely inhuman conditions” as reasons for the travel advisory.
On Saturday Iran and the United States swapped prisoners. In a rare act of cooperation between two longtime foes,American graduate student Xiyue Wang, detained for three years on spying charges was freed in return to the release of imprisoned Iranian stem-cell researcher Massoud Soleimani, accused of sanction violations. Soleimani was arrested upon arrival in the US last year after being invited to take part in a research programme at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, as media reported.
A number of Iranians are being held in US prisons, many of them for breaking sanctions.
Washington has demanded that Iran release the Americans it is holding, including father and son Siamak and Baquer Namazi; Michael R White, a Navy veteran imprisoned last year; and Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent missing since 2007.
Mohammad Javad Zarif,the foreign minister of Iran reiterated on Monday that the Islamic republic is fully ready for a full prisoner exchange with the United States, tweeting: “The ball is in the US’ court”.
Tensions have deepen between Iran and the United States since U.S. President Donald Trump last year pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Tehran’s economy. Iran has responded by gradually scaling back its commitments under the agreement.
