Washington, 24 Mar – The Obama administration paid Iran nearly $2 billion in a ‘ransom payment’ to release US prisoners after at least two years of secret talks between Washington and Tehran, the Mail Online reported.

Five prisoners were freed by Iran in January this year, with a $1.7 billion payment heading from the US to the Islamic republic that day, according to official documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

Iran Focus

London, 23 Mar – Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi has “strongly condemned” the deadly spate of bombings on Tuesday in Brussels, describing them as a “crime against humanity”.

A statement released by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) on Tuesday said: “Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, strongly condemned the terrorist attacks at Brussels’ airport and subway station as a crime against humanity. While offering her condolences to the Belgian people and government, she expressed her sincere sympathies to the families of the victims of this terrorist crime and wished for the recovery of the injured.”

Tokyo, 23 Mar – Ship insurers have stepped in to help plug a shortfall in cover for transporting Iranian oil resulting from the fact that U.S. reinsurers are still restrained by Washington’s sanctions, according to officials involved in the initiative, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

International oil and shipping companies have been eager to boost business with Iran since international sanctions related to its nuclear program were lifted in January, but securing proper insurance cover has been among the stumbling blocks in recent weeks.