US calls Iran's claims of prisoner exchange agreement a 'cruel lie'

The U.S. State Department on Sunday dismissed claims from Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian that Iran and the United States reached a prisoner exchange deal.

"Statements from Iranian officials that a deal regarding the exchange of prisoners has been reached are another especially cruel lie that only adds to the suffering of their families," State Department spokesman Ned Price told Fox News. 

Earlier that day, Amirabdollahian told Iran's state media: "Regarding the issue of prisoner swaps between Iran and the U.S., we have reached an agreement in the recent days and if everything goes well on the U.S. side, I think we will witness a prisoner exchange in a short period," Reuters reported.

"On our part everything is ready, while the U.S. is currently working on the final technical coordination," Amirabdollahian said.

Tehran has been trying to release more than a dozen Iranians in the United States over the past several years, while the Islamic Republic has imprisoned dozens of Iranian dual nationals and foreigners.