The US has issued a sanctions waiver allowing banks to transfer $6bn of frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, in order to facilitate a prisoner exchange deal between the two countries. The funds, which can only be used for humanitarian trade, will provide a limited benefit to Iran. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that five Americans detained in Iran would be released in exchange for the transfer of funds. This move has sparked controversy, with Republicans accusing President Joe Biden of paying a “ransom” to the state sponsor of terrorism.
The prisoner exchange deal involves the release of four American-Iranian dual nationals who have been held in Evin prison in Tehran and moved to house arrest. The names of three prisoners – Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, and Morad Tahbaz – have been revealed, while the fourth remains unidentified. There is also an additional prisoner already under house arrest, whose identity is unknown. The release of these individuals has been a longstanding demand from the US.
The frozen funds, estimated to be tens of billions of dollars, have been held in bank accounts across the world since 2018, when the US withdrew from the international nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions. The waiver issued by the United States allows certain banks in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to transfer the $6bn from South Korea to Qatar’s central bank without facing punishment.
Secretary Blinken emphasized that the funds would be used strictly for humanitarian purposes and would not provide direct access to Iran. He also assured that there would be significant oversight from the US in the utilization of the funds. However, critics, including the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed concerns over the move, stating that it creates an incentive for America’s adversaries to conduct future hostage-taking.
The Biden administration defended the waiver, asserting that it was a procedural step in an ongoing process. White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson highlighted that the release of the funds was necessary to facilitate the release of US citizens held in Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani expressed optimism that the prisoner swap would take place soon.
This development raises questions about the long-standing conflict between the US and Iran, as well as the role of sanctions and hostage-taking in diplomatic negotiations. Critics argue that the prisoner exchange sets a dangerous precedent, while proponents believe it may pave the way for further dialogue between the two nations. Overall, the impact of this news remains to be seen, as it is likely to elicit diverse reactions from different stakeholders.
