US Judge approves to drop charges against Iran national per prisoner swap agreement
US District Judge P.Kevin Castel has agreed on the dropping of charges against Iranian national Alireza Moazami Gouzard following the wider agreement between US and Iran governments. Gouzard is one of the Iranian nationals to have their Interpol detention requests dropped. Judge Castel previously threatened to deny the dropping of charges against Gouzard demanding the prosecutors to elaborate the "significant foreign policy interests" that grounded the dismissal. As reported by Newsweek, Castel also urged not to approve the request if it is grounded on reasons that contradict public interest. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cronan responded to Judge Castel stating that the prisoner swap that caused for dropping the charges filed against Gouzard was a unique agreement that was based on extraordinary situations aiming to get back the freedom of the American prisoners detained in Iran. According to Reuters, the judge has stated in his February 18 order that he was satisfied with the explanations provided by the prosecutors, and that the conduct of the foreign policy in the US is committed not to the judiciary, but to the political branches of the government. President Obama's prisoner-agreement with Iran succeeded to reclaim the freedom of five Americans which included the Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian. In return the US government offered clemency to seven Iranian detained in the United States and dropped charges against 13 Iranians outside of America. Gouzard was charged in 2012 he tried to purchase aircraft materials from US supplier to be shipped to Iran. Per Newsmax, he was arrested in Malaysia in 2012 in connection to the case, although he was later freed after the country denied the US' request for extradition. He was considered an Iranian fugitive by the US authorities ever since, but is now cleared of such charges as part of the prisoner exchange agreement. Castel's approval cleans out the only known issue against President Obama's move to free the jailed Americans.
