Post-ceasefire humanitarian prisoner exchange begins

Iran and Iraq agreed to an ICRC-supported return of registered sick and wounded prisoners. A planned 20 November start preceded the actual exchange later that month.

Iran and Iraq ended their third round with pledges to uphold the ceasefire but no substantive progress toward permanent peace. Humanitarian negotiations had not resolved the border dispute.

MEES relayed IRNA’s report of NIOC agreeing with Saipem to complete the IGAT-2 gas pipeline. Restoring stalled gas infrastructure formed part of Iran’s postwar economic recovery.

An economic cooperation framework provided for renewed annual Iranian gas sales to the Soviet Union. This was an agreement, not evidence of completed deliveries.

Khomeini praised the Basij and called for its continuing role, including organization among university and seminary students. His message envisioned volunteer mobilization beyond the battlefield after...

The prisoner exchange was halted amid disagreement over its terms. The interruption showed how humanitarian returns remained vulnerable to disputes between the governments.

Britain reopened its Tehran embassy after the agreement to restore full relations. A functioning embassy marked a practical step beyond the earlier ministerial accord.

Velayati wrote to the ICRC president alleging that Iraq had failed to return some sick and wounded Iranian prisoners under the November agreement.

The Christian Science Monitor reported foreign firms seeking Iranian reconstruction contracts, with damaged energy facilities among the priorities.

MEES reported a compromise over Italian contractors’ claims for Bandar Abbas port work. The claimed debt should not be confused with the final payment.