Kassim Tajideen, convicted of being a Hezbollah financier, at his residence in Beirut following his release from a US prison. AFP
The National: Hezbollah financier 'freed by US after secret Iran talks'
Unofficial and indirect discussions between Tehran and Washington are expected to result in more releases, officials say
A Lebanese man convicted of financing Hezbollah was freed from jail in the US last month as a result of indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington that are expected to yield more releases, three senior Middle East officials told Reuters news agency.
Kassim Tajideen was released on June 11 and arrived in Lebanon last week. Two of the sources told said his release was part of the same track of talks that last year yielded the release by Iran of Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese businessman with US permanent residency, and Syria's release of Sam Goodwin, a US citizen.
A State Department representative dismissed the claim and insisted Tajideen was released because of health concerns.
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Update #1: US released Lebanon man after secret talks with Iran (Middle East Monitor)
Update #2: ICE: Convicted Hezbollah financier has returned to Lebanon (UPI)
WNU Editor: Good question. What did the US get? .... The Trump administration gave Iran and Hezbollah a high-value terrorist prisoner but seems to have got next to nothing in return. (Business Insider).
