TEHRAN 10 May (ANA) - Tehran is ready for a full prisoner exchange with the United States, according to a spokesman for the Iranian government.

"We are prepared to discuss this issue without any preconditions but the Americans have not responded yet," Ali Rabiei was quoted as saying by the Khabar Online news website on Sunday.

"We hope that as the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease threatens the lives of Iranian citizens in the US prisons, the US government eventually will prefer lives to politics."

Rabiei said Tehran considers Washington responsible for the health of the Iranian prisoners, adding "it seems the US has more readiness to bring the situation to an end".

Rabiei did not elaborate but Iranian media in recent months said there are several Iranians in US custody, including Sirous Asgari, a 60-year-old university professor.

Last week, US officials said they were making progress in efforts to secure the release of Michael White, a detained Navy veteran in Iran. But they were also pushing back on Iranian suggestions that a swap was in the works.(ANA)

FA/ANA/10 May 2000 -------