WASHINGTON — Five Iranians imprisoned by U.S. forces in Iraq since January will probably be released in the next few weeks, according to some U.S. and Iraqi officials, a development that could help ease months of escalating conflict between Washington and Tehran.
The Iranians, who were seized on suspicion of spying during a raid in Irbil, in northern Iraq, are up for a six-month review of their cases at the end of June, the officials said.
The officials emphasized that no decision had been made, but said the review offered an opportunity to resolve an issue that has been a point of contention between the Bush administration and the regime in Tehran, and also a source of tension with U.S. allies in the Iraqi government.
The Iranians' release would make it more likely that the recently started U.S.-Iranian dialogue on Iraq would continue. It could also encourage Iran to release four Iranian Americans, who hold citizenship in both countries, being held in Tehran on allegations of spying, Middle East experts said.
One senior Iraqi official, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said in an interview that he expected the review of the men's status would be completed by the end of the month and that he was hopeful they would be released.
A senior Bush administration official said the Iranians "could well" be released, but added that it wasn't a "foregone conclusion." The official was cautious in assessing whether the move would improve U.S.-Iranian relations, saying that Tehran's reactions were hard to predict......
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