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Deal is possible: Trump says 'thank you to Iran' as US Navy veteran Michael White released from prison

Deal is possible: Trump says 'thank you to Iran' as US Navy veteran Michael White released from prison

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump tweeted that Navy veteran Michael White, who had been detained in Iran for over 600 days, was now on his way back to the United States.

Also read: Why did Iran and US step back from all-out war

US President Donald Trump tweeted thanks to Iran after Navy veteran Michael White was released from a prison in the nation, noting that it shows that “a deal is possible”.

"I just got off the phone with former American hostage Michael White, who is now in Zurich after being released from Iran. He will be on a U.S. plane shortly, and is coming home..." Trump tweeted.

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According to Trump, White travelled to Zurich after leaving Iran and is set to be on a plane to the US “shortly”.POTUS also declared that more than 40 American detainees have been brought home since he took office.

"...to the United States! We have now brought more than 40 American hostages and detainees back home since I took office. Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!" he added.

Commenting on the exchange, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zariff tweeted that “this can happen to all prisoners”, noting that another Iranian detainee, scientist Sirous Asgari, had returned home after spending three years in a US prison. He had been accused of stealing trade secrets from a research project at a university in Ohio but denied the charge.

On Wednesday, Iranian scientist Sirous Asgari who was arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was released.

This prisoner's swap comes at a time when the tensions between the two countries have escalated after Trump pursued a "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran imposing sanctions. In 2018, Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from 2015 Iran nuclear deal known as (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) JCPOA, signed between US, UK, France, Russia, China, Germany and EU and Iran.

(With inputs from agencies)