The Trump administration intends to request the release of Americans detained in Iran as part of upcoming negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli war there, according to people briefed on the plans, Report informs referring to The Washington Post.
It was not immediately clear how aggressively administration officials may push Iran to release the detained Americans when peace talks open this weekend in Pakistan, these people said, with some expressing concern that if the negotiations prove difficult the ask could be delayed.
The ceasefire declared earlier this week already is under immense strain.
Those familiar with the administration"s plans disclosed the impending request, which has not been previously reported, on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive diplomacy.
Advocates for the detained Americans - there are believed to be at least six in Iranian custody - say they are hopeful that although it is likely these US citizens were taken by Iran to be used as leverage in future talks with Washington, they will be freed as a goodwill gesture from Tehran.
Iran"s release of US citizens would be a "simple and no-loss way to have an off-ramp from the current hostilities" for Iran, said Kieran Ramsey of Global Reach, a nonprofit focused on securing the release of American hostages and wrongful detainees.
The White House, which is coordinating the peace talks with Tehran, declined to comment. "These are ongoing discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the press," spokeswoman Anna Kelly said via email.
In a statement denouncing Tehran"s "long and shameful history of unjustly detaining US nationals and other foreign citizens," the US State Department called on Iran to "immediately release all Americans" detained there.
"Out of respect for their safety and security," the statement said, "we have nothing further to share."