Following efforts by the Iranian consulates general in the Iraqi cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, the inmates were repatriated and handed over to Iranian authorities.
In April 2011, Iran and Iraq signed an agreement on the extradition of criminals, including provisions for the repatriation of convicts to their country of origin.
It was signed after coordination between the two countries’ juridical officials, foreign ministries and embassies.
Back in late June, Tehran and Baghdad made a prisoner exchange, with 14 Iranian and 7 Iraqi inmates returning home to serve their prison terms.
The prisoners were exchanged via Shalamcheh border crossing, southwest of Iran, on the evening of June 24.