Tasnim � The spokesperson for Iran�s Foreign Ministry expressed the country�s readiness for a package of measures to exchange prisoners with the United States.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference in Iran�s northwestern city of Tabriz on Saturday, Abbas Mousavi said Iran is prepared to exchange prisoners with the US under a package of measures.

He said the proposal for a prisoner swap with the US was put forward by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after the recent release of Iranian scientist Masoud Soleimani.

In a post on his Twitter account after the release of Soleimani on December 7, Zarif said, �After getting our hostage back this week, fully ready for comprehensive prisoner exchange. The ball is in the US� court.�

Elsewhere in his comments, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the US government offers fake sympathy for the Iranian nation, because Washington has imposed harsh sanctions against Iranians and practically prevented the delivery of food and medicine into Iran.

Even the Central Bank of Iran has been blacklisted by the US, Mousavi deplored, adding that such sanctions amount to economic terrorism and crimes against humanity, because they have prevented Iran from paying for the import of medicine and foodstuff.