US and Qatar Have Deal to Block Iran's Access to $6 Billion in Prisoner Exchange Funds

The U.S. and Qatar have a "quiet understanding" not to allow Iran to access the $6 billion in funds recently transferred to Qatar as part of a prisoner exchange deal.

The funds are still sitting in a Qatari bank account and have not been spent or accessed by Iran in any way.

The funds can only be used by Iran for approved humanitarian purposes like food and medicine, a long and scrutinized process.

The U.S. retains the right to freeze the funds at any time.

U.S. intelligence suggests senior Iranian officials were surprised by the recent Hamas attack on Israel, casting doubt on direct Iranian involvement.