US-Iran Agreement Frees Detained Citizens in Exchange for Unfrozen Funds: Breaking News
In a significant development, it has been reported that as part of a larger agreement between the United States and Iran, five Iranian-American citizens who have been detained in Iran for an extended period are expected to be released on Monday. This crucial breakthrough comes after months of negotiations between the two parties, who have been at odds over various issues, including Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
According to sources, a Qatari plane has been waiting in Iran to fly out the US detainees in exchange for five Iranians held in the United States, thanks to a mediated deal facilitated by Doha. The agreement also includes the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian funds, which have now been transferred to accounts in Qatar. The funds were previously held in restricted accounts in South Korea.
It has been confirmed that all five detainees held by Iran have been deemed to be unlawfully detained by the US government. Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, expressed hope during a press conference broadcast on Press TV that the release of the detainees would be completed as planned, along with other components of the agreement.
In line with the terms of the US-Iran agreement, the $6 billion in Iranian funds that were previously restricted in South Korea have been moved to banks in Qatar. Sources familiar with the matter have reported that Qatar has informed both Iranian and US officials that the money has been successfully transferred from Switzerland to bank accounts in Qatar. These funds primarily originated from oil sales that were allowed and deposited into accounts established during the Trump administration.
However, it is worth noting that the transfer of Iran’s funds has faced criticism from US Republicans, who argue that President Biden is effectively paying a ransom for the release of American citizens. The White House, on the other hand, has defended the deal, emphasizing that the funds can only be used by Iran for humanitarian purposes. The US Treasury Department will closely monitor each transaction.
As part of the agreement, Qatar has agreed to oversee how Iran utilizes the unfrozen funds, ensuring that they are strictly used for humanitarian goods such as food and medicine that comply with US sanctions.
The detainees set to be released include Siamak Namazi and Emad Sharqi, both businessmen, as well as Morad Tahbaz, an environmentalist who also holds British nationality. They were recently released from prison and placed under house arrest. The identities of the other two detainees have not been disclosed.
On the Iranian side, the five individuals to be released by the United States have been named as Mehrdad Moin-Ansari, Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour-Kafrani, Amin Hassanzadeh, and Kaveh Afrasiabi. It is important to note that there were initial rumors that Afrasiabi would remain in the United States, but recent reports suggest that he will also be released.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have been simmering since former President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018. Efforts to reach a new nuclear deal have made little progress so far, as President Joe Biden prepares for the upcoming 2024 US election.
This breakthrough agreement to release detained citizens and unfreeze Iranian funds marks a significant step forward in the relationship between the United States and Iran. The impact of these actions on the broader diplomatic landscape and the potential for further negotiations remains to be seen.
