In response to the news about negotiations between Iran and America over prisoners, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Americans have not approached him for a prisoner exchange.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that “the issue of prisoners is a human rights issue and talks over their situation would be positive.”

Hours before Rouhani’s comments, Morgan Ortagus, the spokeswoman for the US State Department tweeted: “President Rouhani wants the world to respect Iran. The Iranian regime must earn that respect. They can start by releasing American and other hostages.”

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that American officials have suggested negotiations with Iran over the American and Iranian American prisoners currently incarcerated in Iran.

However, Foreign Minister Zarif said on Thursday night that: “The Americans did not suggest prisoner exchange to me, and I have received no requests for negotiation over this issue.”

The issue of dual citizens in prison was also brought up by the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his meeting with President Rouhani.

There are currently a number of Iranian dual citizens from Britain, US, France, and Australia and other countries incarcerated in Iran.

Zarif also mentioned at the UN: “We were willing to exchange Nazanin Zaghari with the 400 million pounds that Britain owes us.” He even mentioned that the British Foreign Minister at the time, Jeremy Hunt, had told him that this is blackmail.

The Islamic Republic has a long history of arresting citizens of other countries and releasing them in exchange for money or the release of its agents who had been incarcerated in other countries for assassinations.