Iran and Sweden completed a prisoner exchange on Saturday, a seemingly positive outcome for the families involved and the governments. However, this event is part of Iran's long-standing practice of what is known as hostage diplomacy, where the detention of foreign nationals is used as a tool of foreign policy. Iran has demanded various forms of compensation in exchange for releasing prisoners, including assassins, cash, and frozen funds. This strategy has been effective for Iran but has raised concerns globally. The history of hostage diplomacy by Iran dates back to the 1979 revolution, and its demands have expanded over the years, involving political, financial, and humanitarian aspects. The exchange involved the release of a former judiciary official serving a life sentence in Sweden for his role in mass executions, in return for the freedom of two Swedish citizens and leaving behind a third. Critics argue that Iran has mastered the art of hostage diplomacy and leveraged it to its advantage. They also warn that this practice sets a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian governments. The exchange has sparked worries among human rights advocates about the impact on accountability for war crimes in other countries. Additionally, criticism was directed at Sweden for leaving behind the third detainee in the negotiations. The nature of this prisoner swap has raised concerns about the implications and potential normalization of hostage diplomacy as a political tool. Overall, the article highlights the complex and concerning nature of Iran's hostage diplomacy and its broader implications for international relations and human rights.