NEWS
5 Americans Freed Monday In Prisoner Swap With Iran
Courtesy of Handout
Five U.S. citizens detained in Iran were freed Monday as part of a prisoner swap, and were en route to Qatar, which helped broker the deal, on their way to the United States.
The prisoner exchange negotiations have been underway for more than a year, with the Biden administration finally offering $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds along with five Iranian nationals held in the U.S.
Congress was officially notified last week that Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on sanctions waivers that would allow $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds to be transferred from restricted accounts in the Republic of Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar, where they will “be available only for humanitarian trade.”
The detained Americans are Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two others who have not been identified. Namazi, Tahbaz, and Shargi, who have been detained for years, were released to house arrest in August, along with a fourth detainee. The fifth was already on house arrest, per reports.
But the deal was swiftly criticized by Republican lawmakers, who argue it only rewards Iran for holding innocent Americans, and balloons the price the U.S. pays for such deals.
“The Americans held by Iran are innocent hostages who must be released immediately and unconditionally. However, I remain deeply concerned that the administration’s decision to waive sanctions to facilitate the transfer of $6 billion in funds for Iran, the world’s top state sponsor of terrorism, creates a direct incentive for America’s adversaries to conduct future hostage-taking,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul said in a statement.
“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,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Last time it was $1.7B traded for hostages next time it will probably be $10B the price keeps going up & up.”
In a press briefing last week, National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby insisted the funds are “not a blank check,” and will be used for the Iranian people, not the regime.
“They don’t get to spend it any way they want. It’s not $6 billion all at once. They will have to make a request for withdrawals for humanitarian purposes only,” Kirby said.
TMX contributed to this article.
