At 12:01 pm on Wednesday, 20 January 2021, the governments of Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela can do what Iran did at 12:40 pm on Tuesday, 20 January 1981, when it purposely waited approximately thirty-nine minutes until the completed succession from the 39th President, Jimmy Carter, to the 40th President, Ronald Reagan, to release fifty-two (52) United States diplomats held captive for 444 days. 

Nearing the inauguration of The Honorable Joseph Biden as the 46th President of the United States, the countries Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Venezuela each control individuals subject to United States jurisdiction and/or individuals of interest to the government of the United States.   

A gesture of goodwill to the incoming Biden Administration?  Releasing some or all individuals immediately after the term ends for the 45th President of the United States, The Honorable Donald Trump, would provide a diplomatic version of the military “shock and awe.”  Do the unexpected.  Do it absent of a quid-pro-quo.  Go big.  

Cuba- H.E. Miguel Diaz-Canel, President of the Republic of Cuba could deport:  

William Morales.  From the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Morales was convicted on February 28, 1979, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York of possession of explosives (pipe bombs) and possession and transportation in interstate commerce of pipe bombs and a sawed-off shotgun. Morales was sentenced to ten years in prison and five years probation. 

Victor Manuel Gerena.  From the FBI: Gerena is wanted in connection with the 1983 armed robbery of approximately $7 million from a security company in West Hartford, Connecticut. 

Assata Shakur (Joanne Chesimard).  From the FBI: Joanne Chesimard is wanted for escaping from prison in Clinton, New Jersey, while serving a life sentence for murder. On May 2, 1973, Chesimard, who was part of a revolutionary extremist organization known as the Black Liberation Army, and two accomplices were stopped for a motor vehicle violation on the New Jersey Turnpike by two troopers with the New Jersey State Police. At the time, Chesimard was wanted for her involvement in several felonies, including bank robbery. Chesimard and her accomplices opened fire on the troopers. One trooper was wounded and the other was shot and killed execution-style at point-blank range. Chesimard fled the scene, but was subsequently apprehended. One of her accomplices was killed in the shoot-out and the other was also apprehended and remains in jail.  In 1977, Chesimard was found guilty of first degree murder, assault and battery of a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill, illegal possession of a weapon, and armed robbery. She was sentenced to life in prison. On November 2, 1979, Chesimard escaped from prison and lived underground before being located in Cuba in 1984. She is thought to currently still be living in Cuba.

Iran- H.E. Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, could release information about, commute the sentence of and/or release on humanitarian grounds:

Robert Levinson.  Mr. Levinson, a retired agent of the FBI who was working as a private investigator, has been missing since March 2007 and is presumed to have died.  No information has been provided to confirm his status.

Siamak Namazi.  “A Dubai-based businessman with dual US and Iranian citizenship, is detained in October 2015 while visiting relatives in Tehran.  He was sentenced in October 2016 to 10 years in prison and fined $4.8 million, according to Iran's official news channel IRINN. Iran officials say five people were convicted and sentenced for "cooperating with Iran's enemies," a government euphemism that usually implies cooperating with the United States.” 

Baquer Namazi.  “A former UNICEF official and father of Siamak Namazi, is detained in February 2016, his wife Effie Namazi says on Facebook. He is an Iranian-American.  He was sentenced in October 2016 to 10 years in prison and fined $4.8 million, according to Iran's official news channel IRINN. Iran officials say five people were convicted and sentenced for "cooperating with Iran's enemies," a government euphemism that usually implies cooperating with the United States.” 

Karan Vafadari.  “Vafadari's family announces that Karan Vafadari and his wife, Afarin Niasari, were detained at Tehran airport in July 2016. Vafadari, an Iranian-American, and Niasari, a green-card holder, ran an art gallery in Tehran.  In March 2017, new charges of "attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic and recruiting spies through foreign embassies" are brought against Vafadari.  In January 2018, Vafadari is sentenced to 27 years in prison. Niasari is sentenced to 16 years.  In July 2018, Vafadari reportedly released from prison on bail while they await their appeals court rulings.” 

Afarin Niasari.  “Vafadari's family announces that Karan Vafadari and his wife, Afarin Niasari, were detained at Tehran airport in July 2016. Vafadari, an Iranian-American, and Niasari, a green-card holder, ran an art gallery in Tehran.  In March 2017, new charges of "attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic and recruiting spies through foreign embassies" are brought against Vafadari.  In January 2018, Vafadari is sentenced to 27 years in prison. Niasari is sentenced to 16 years.  In July 2018, Vafadari reportedly released from prison on bail while they await their appeals court rulings.” 

Michael White.  “January 9, 2019 - Bahram Ghasemi, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, says White "was arrested in the city of Mashhad a while ago, and within a few days after his arrest the US government was informed of the arrest through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran." Ghasemi denies allegations that White, a US Navy veteran who hails from Imperial Beach, California, has been mistreated in prison.  White is handed a 13-year prison sentence on charges of insulting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and for publicly posting private images, according to his attorney Mark Zaid.  The ailing US Navy veteran is released into the custody of the Swiss Embassy on medical furlough. One condition of his release is that he must stay in Iran.  White is released, according to White's mother and a person familiar with the negotiations.” 

Morad Tahbaz.  “An Iranian-American businessman and conservationist.  He also holds British citizenship.  Tahbaz is a co-founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF).  In January 2018, Iranian authorities arrested Tahbaz along with eight other PWHF-affiliated individuals.  In November 2019, the Iranian judiciary sentenced Tahbaz to 10 years in prison for "contacts with the US enemy government."”  

Afarin Neyssari.  “An Iranian-American architect and the founder and owner of Aun Gallery. Neyssari and her husband Karan Vafadari were imprisoned in Evin Prison in Iran for a year without bail or trial before being released on July 21, 2018.” 

Afshin Sheikholeslami Vatani.  “Released on bail in February 2019 but reportedly has not been permitted to leave Iran and then arrested again in 2020.” 

Syria- H.E. Bashar al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic could commute the sentence of and/or release United States citizens on humanitarian grounds: 

Austin Tice (39).  “A Marine Corps veteran, was attending law school at Georgetown University when he decided to cover the war in Syria, where he wrote articles for several news organizations.  He was abducted in 2012.” 

Majd Kamalmaz (62).  “Born in Syria and grew up in the United States, had established a mental health clinic in Lebanon for refugees from the Syrian war.  In 2017, he went to Syria to visit family members and was taken the day after he arrived.” 

Venezuela- H.E. Nicolas Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela could commute the sentences of and/or release on humanitarian grounds: 

“Citgo's former president, Jose Pereira, was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison and given a $2m (£1.5m) fine. Receiving sentences of eight and ten years, all vice presidents of Citgo, were Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Jose Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell and Gustavo Cardenas.  The group, all US citizens or permanent residents, was arrested in November 2017 after being called to Caracas for a meeting.  According to Human Rights Watch, the group was accused of signing a deal that was “unfavourable” for Venezuela's state oil firm.”