Topics

Posted 9/12/2023, 2:03:45 AM

Blinken OKs $6B Iran Fund Transfer to Secure Release of 5 Detained Americans

Secretary of State Blinken signed off on waiving sanctions to allow $6B in Iranian oil revenue to be transferred to facilitate release of 5 detained Americans.
The funds will move from a restricted account in South Korea to Qatar with restrictions on how Iran can spend it.
The 5 detained Americans include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and 2 others unnamed.
Officials say the Americans could be released as soon as next week if all goes to plan.
Critics argue the sanctions waiver incentivizes future hostage-taking by adversaries.

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Relevant topic timeline:

8/10/2023

Americans moved to Iran house arrest in planned prisoner swap

Main Topic: Prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States, involving the release of American citizens held in Iran and the unfreezing of Iranian government assets. Key Points: 1. Five Americans imprisoned in Iran have been placed under house arrest as part of the planned prisoner exchange. 2. The exchange will also involve the release of roughly $6 billion in Iranian government assets blocked under U.S. sanctions. 3. The prisoner exchange negotiations have been ongoing for months, with Qatar and other governments acting as intermediaries.

9/7/2023

U.S. Seized Iranian Oil Over Smuggling Incident That Escalated Tensions in Gulf

The United States government has seized nearly one million barrels of Iranian crude oil that was being smuggled to China in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, after raising the threat of prosecution to get the tanker brought to American waters.

9/11/2023

U.S. Agrees to Unfreeze $6 Billion in Iranian Assets to Secure Release of 5 Americans Held in Iran

The Biden administration has agreed to unfreeze approximately $6 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for the release of five American citizens held by Iran, with the deal also calling for the freeing of five unidentified Iranians held by the US, triggering potential outrage due to the timing coinciding with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

9/11/2023

Biden Frees Up $6 Billion to Secure Release of 5 Detained Americans in Prisoner Swap with Iran

The Biden administration has issued a waiver allowing $6 billion in Iranian funds to be transferred to Qatar, signaling progress in a deal to free five Americans who have been wrongfully detained in Iran.

9/12/2023

GOP Slams Biden's Iran Prisoner Swap as 'Ransom' to Terror State

The Biden administration's decision to carry out a prisoner exchange with Iran, involving issuing a waiver to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds, has sparked outrage from Republicans who accuse Biden of paying a ransom to a state sponsor of terrorism.

9/12/2023

U.S. Releases $6 Billion in Iranian Funds for Prisoner Swap Deal, But Tensions Remain

The Biden administration is disputing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's claim that Iran will decide how to use the $6 billion in frozen funds released by the US in a prisoner exchange deal, stating that the funds can only be used for humanitarian purposes and will be under strict oversight.

9/18/2023

Iran to Receive $6 Billion From Frozen Funds as Part of Prisoner Swap Deal With U.S.

Iran and the United States have been notified that $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds have been transferred to accounts in Qatar, paving the way for a swap of five detainees between the two countries.

9/18/2023

Biden Secures Release of 5 Americans from Iran, But Deal Draws Criticism

President Biden's deal with Iran to free five imprisoned Americans by unlocking $6 billion in frozen funds is facing criticism from his domestic opponents, highlighting the difficult balancing act that presidents face in navigating humanitarian concerns, geopolitics, and domestic considerations.

10/11/2023

Yellen: $6 Billion in Iranian Funds Could Be Refrozen Amid Tensions Over Oil Revenue and Hamas Attack

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has indicated that the possibility of refreezing $6 billion of Iranian oil revenue held in Qatar is still on the table, though no decisions have been made yet, and she emphasized that the funds were originally intended for humanitarian purposes and have not been accessed by Iran.

10/11/2023

Yellen and Blinken Address Iran Sanctions and Gaza Conflict

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has stated that the US is not ruling out imposing new sanctions on Iran if evidence emerges linking them to the attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

Topics

Posted 9/12/2023, 2:03:45 AM

Blinken OKs $6B Iran Fund Transfer to Secure Release of 5 Detained Americans

Secretary of State Blinken signed off on waiving sanctions to allow $6B in Iranian oil revenue to be transferred to facilitate release of 5 detained Americans.
The funds will move from a restricted account in South Korea to Qatar with restrictions on how Iran can spend it.
The 5 detained Americans include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and 2 others unnamed.
Officials say the Americans could be released as soon as next week if all goes to plan.
Critics argue the sanctions waiver incentivizes future hostage-taking by adversaries.

go.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/10/2023

Americans moved to Iran house arrest in planned prisoner swap

9/7/2023

U.S. Seized Iranian Oil Over Smuggling Incident That Escalated Tensions in Gulf

9/11/2023

U.S. Agrees to Unfreeze $6 Billion in Iranian Assets to Secure Release of 5 Americans Held in Iran

9/11/2023

Biden Frees Up $6 Billion to Secure Release of 5 Detained Americans in Prisoner Swap with Iran

9/12/2023

GOP Slams Biden's Iran Prisoner Swap as 'Ransom' to Terror State

9/12/2023

U.S. Releases $6 Billion in Iranian Funds for Prisoner Swap Deal, But Tensions Remain

9/18/2023

Iran to Receive $6 Billion From Frozen Funds as Part of Prisoner Swap Deal With U.S.

9/18/2023

Biden Secures Release of 5 Americans from Iran, But Deal Draws Criticism

10/11/2023

Yellen: $6 Billion in Iranian Funds Could Be Refrozen Amid Tensions Over Oil Revenue and Hamas Attack

10/11/2023

Yellen and Blinken Address Iran Sanctions and Gaza Conflict

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has stated that the US is not ruling out imposing new sanctions on Iran if evidence emerges linking them to the attack on Israel by Hamas militants.