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Washington - Convicted spy Jonathan Pollard will be released in November after serving 30 years of his life sentence, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said on Tuesday.
He has been incarcerated since his arrest on November 21 1985, outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, and subsequent conviction for spying for Israel.
Under federal law, parole is mandatory after 30 years of a life term unless the US Parole Commission finds an inmate engaged in misconduct while imprisoned or remains a risk to reoffend.
Pollard's release comes as President Barack Obama's acceptance of an international nuclear deal with Iran has been vehemently opposed by close ally Israel.
Israel has long called for Pollard to be freed.
The White House's National Security Council (NSC) issued a statement last week denying that Pollard's status was connected to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's anger over the Iran agreement.
"Mr Pollard's status will be determined by the United States Parole Commission according to standard procedures. There is absolutely zero linkage between Mr Pollard's status and foreign-policy considerations," NSC spokesperson Alistair Baskey said.
Pollard, a civilian US Navy analyst, and his wife pleaded guilty in 1986. She served three years in prison and moved to Israel after her release, and he has received Israeli citizenship while imprisoned.
