Israeli-Russian hostage in Iraq to be freed in deal involving Iranian prisoners

A prisoner exchange involving Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian academic kidnapped in Baghdad in 2023, is expected to be finalized within days, multiple Iraqi and regional sources have said, amid quiet negotiations between Washington, Baghdad, and groups aligned with Tehran.

An Iraqi interior ministry security source confirmed to Iran International that Tsurkov’s release will come in exchange for “several Iranian prisoners,” some of whom are convicted in Iraq of security-related offenses, including kidnapping and murder.

Tsurkov, a PhD student at Princeton University and fellow at the New Lines Institute, disappeared in March 2023 while conducting research in Iraq.

Israeli officials believe she is being held by Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shi’ite militia. While the group has denied involvement, an Iraqi official told Israel’s Channel 11 that she was first detained by Iraq’s intelligence service—or by individuals impersonating officers—before being transferred to the militia.

Earlier on Saturday, Iraq’s Al Rabaa TV, which is aligned with Iranian-backed groups, reported that Tsurkov would be released in a deal involving one Iranian and six other individuals detained over attacks on US interests in Iraq.

Saudi-owned Al Hadath and other regional outlets said the agreement came after a senior Iraqi security official visited Washington, and that Tsurkov may first be sent to a neutral country before returning to Israel.

Who is the Iranian involved?

While no official comment has been made by Tehran, an Iraqi security source told Iran International that among those considered for the exchange is Mohammadreza Nouri, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force.

Nouri was sentenced to life imprisonment in Iraq in September 2023 for orchestrating the murder of American citizen Stephen Troell in Baghdad in November 2022.

Troell, a Tennessee native and English teacher, was shot while driving through Baghdad’s Karrada district. According to US and Iraqi officials, Nouri, along with members of the Iran-aligned Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, attempted to kidnap Troell for ransom.

A militant group called Ashab al-Kahf later claimed responsibility, citing retaliation for the 2020 US drone strike that killed IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iran’s judiciary official Kazem Gharibabadi has denied the charges against Nouri, calling him a "defender of the shrine"—a title Iran uses for personnel active in Syria.

Gharibabadi acknowledged that the US had requested Nouri’s extradition, but said Baghdad rejected the request. Although Iraq and Iran have an extradition treaty, Iraq did not transfer Nouri to Iran either.

Israeli officials had confirmed diplomatic efforts to secure Tsurkov’s release, with support from the United States and other allies. “We continue to seek her release through multiple channels,” an Israeli official told Ynet.

Tsurkov’s sister, Emma, said the family had no details about the reported deal but remained hopeful.

Meanwhile, a source close to Iraqi Shi'ite factions told Israel’s Kan public broadcaster that Kata’ib Hezbollah had not yet given final approval for Tsurkov’s release.

If done, this would mean a complex negotiation involving the Iraqi government, Iran-aligned militias, and indirect coordination with Israel and the US.