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US releases $6B frozen Iranian funds as part of deal with Iran prisoner swap


The U.S. is waiving sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds as part of a prisoner exchange agreement. Under this deal, five American citizens who are currently detained in Iran would be released.

There are currently conflicting statements coming from the U.S. and Iran on how the country will be able to use the unfrozen assets.

The U.S. says the money can only go toward humanitarian purposes, however, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says the country will use the money however it sees fit.

In an NBC exclusive interview, Raisi told Lester Holt that the money belongs to the Iranian government and people, so it’s their money to spend freely.

“Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people needs,” Raisi said. “So this money will be budgeted for those needs — and the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.”

The U.S. and Iran are at odds on many political fronts. Iran is helping Russia in the war in Ukraine, and its nuclear programs are seen widely as secretive and advancing.

The initial agreement determined back in August was five detained Americans for five detained Iranians plus removing sanctions on $6 billion.

The Biden administration touted the deal for bringing home wrongfully detained Americans, however some Republicans have criticized the added $6 billion in the agreement.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, posted on X, calling the deal blackmail.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas similarly criticized the deal.

“Today’s news confirms there has already been a side deal including a $6 billion ransom and the release of Iranian operatives,” Cruz said in a statement.

Up until now, the $6 billion has been held in South Korean banks. The Biden administration told Congress on Monday, Sept. 11, it issued a waiver to transfer the money to Qatar, which has been mediating the deal.

Iran can access the unfrozen funds from Qatar, and will be able to use the money however it wants from there — despite direction from the U.S.

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A DAY AFTER THE U.S. WAIVED SANCTIONS TO ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF $6 BILLION IN FROZEN IRANIAN FUNDS – IN A POSSIBLE STEP FOR THE RELEASE OF FIVE AMERICAN CITIZENS DETAINED IN IRAN –

 

THERE ARE CONFLICTING STATEMENTS COMING FROM THE U.S. AND IRAN ON HOW THE MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRY CAN USE THE UNFROZEN ASSETS.

THE U.S. SAYS THE MONEY CAN ONLY GO TOWARD HUMANITARIAN PURPOSES.

 

BUT IRAN’S PRESIDENT SAYS THEY’LL USE THE MONEY HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT.

 

IN AN N-B–C EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW –

 

IRAN’S PRESIDENT TOLD ANCHOR LESTER HOLT THE MONEY BELONGS TO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE IRANIAN PEOPLE –

SO IT’S THEIR MONEY TO SPEND FREELY.

WHEN HOLT ASKED WHETHER THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD HUMANITARIAN NEEDS –

THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED – QUOTE

“HUMANITARIAN MEANS WHATEVER THE IRANIAN PEOPLE NEEDS.

SO THIS MONEY WILL BE BUDGETED FOR THOSE NEEDS –

AND THE NEEDS OF THE IRANIAN PEOPLE WILL BE DECIDED AND DETERMINED BY THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.”

 

THE U.S. AND IRAN ARE AT ODDS ON MANY FRONTS.

IRAN IS HELPING RUSSIA IN THE WAR IN UKRAINE.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMS ARE WIDELY SEEN AS SECRETIVE AND ADVANCING.

THE TWO DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY ON SOCIAL ISSUES.

IN AUGUST, AFTER MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH –

 

THE TWO REACHED AN INITIAL AGREEMENT ON A PRISONER SWAP.

5 DETAINED AMERICANS FOR 5 DETAINED IRANIANS AND REMOVING SANCTIONS ON THE 6 BILLION DOLLARS. 

THE DEAL – TOUTED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING HOME WRONGFULLY DETAINED AMERICANS – BUT CRITICIZED BY OTHERS FOR THE ADDITIONAL 6 BILLION INVOLVED IN THE DEAL.

 

REPUBLICAN SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY POSTED ON X –

it’s ridiculous for US to be blackmailed into paying $6B for hostages which will help indirectly finance the number 1 foreign policy of Iran: terrorism.”

 

REPUBLICAN SENATOR TED CRUZ SIMILARLY CRITICIZED THE DEAL –

Today’s news confirms there has already been a side deal including a $6 billion ransom and the release of Iranian operatives.”

 

THE 6 BILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN TIED UP IN SOUTH KOREAN BANKS –

AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TOLD CONGRESS MONDAY THEY ISSUED A WAIVER TO TRANSFER THE MONEY TO QATAR – WHO HAS BEEN MEDIATING THE DEAL.

IRAN CAN THEN ACCESS THE UNFROZEN FUNDS FROM QATAR –

AND AS IRAN’S PRESIDENT SUGGESTED TODAY –

WILL DO WHAT THEY WILL –

DESPITE DIRECTION FROM THE U.S.