We have always cut deals with other countries to release Americans

President Joe Biden and his team are making no secret of the link between the funds unblocked for Iran and the freedom of five imprisoned Americans .

Some of the officials involved in the prisoner swap, due to take place any day , were involved in a similar agreement with Iran during the Obama presidency.

Other U.S. administrations have faced accusations of giving a green light to third parties to deliver ransom payments to secure the release of American hostages.

The prisoner exchange only applies to five American citizens, but not detainees like Shahab Dalili , who holds a green card.

A former senior Trump administration official called the deal “bad policy” that encourages further hostage taking.

The number of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad has fallen for the first time in over 10 years .

Canada and the U.S. plan to renew their effort for governments to back a declaration against arbitrary detention.

Dozens of countries have already signed on, promising to take collective action.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been imprisoned in Russia since March .

The Iran hostage crisis in 1979 arguably cost Jimmy Carter the White House .