MUSCAT : Oman, renowned for its neutral stance and effective mediation in international disputes, played a crucial role in orchestrating the release of Hamid Noury, a former Iranian prison official held in Sweden since 2019. Noury’s freedom comes in exchange for EU diplomat Johan Floderus and fellow Swede Saeed Azizi, who had been detained in Iran.

Iran’s High Council for Human Rights head Kazem Gharibabadi, announced Noury’s imminent return via social media, highlighting the official’s release from what he termed “illegal detention.” Noury, convicted of grave breaches of humanitarian law for his involvement in the 1988 mass killings in Iranian prisons, landed in Tehran to a warm reception from family and officials.

Simultaneously, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that Floderus, who faced espionage charges and risked the death penalty, along with Azizi, arrested in November 2023, were on their way back to Sweden. The Swedish government had been intensely negotiating their release, a process marked by complex diplomatic manoeuvres and difficult decisions.

State media in Oman reported the successful transfer of detainees from Tehran and Stockholm to Muscat, emphasizing Oman’s pivotal mediation role. The Omani News Agency noted the smooth facilitation of the exchange, underscoring the Sultanate’s ongoing commitment to international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking Oman for its crucial role in the release of French national Louis Arnaud. Macron’s post highlighted Oman’s importance as a trusted interlocutor between Iran and Western nations, celebrating the collaborative efforts that led to this positive outcome.

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