Iran will not have “direct” access to the billions of dollars that will be unlocked as part of the agreement between the two countries to release five American prisoners, said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, quoted by EFE.

At a press conference in Washington, Blinken explained that approximately $6 billion would be used only for “strictly humanitarian” purposes:

• “Iran will not have direct access to these funds, and the U.S. will exercise significant oversight.”

Blinken also said that “from day one” US sanctions against Iran allowed for humanitarian exceptions.

What is Iran’s official version

The statements of the American diplomat contradict the official version of the Iranian government, which states that the resources will be spent “on the various needs of the country, determined by the competent authorities.”

Iran also said the funds would be placed in euros in six Iranian banks in Qatar, which was not confirmed by the US.

The release of funds obtained from gas debts held in South Korean banks is part of a plan to release five American prisoners: Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and two other unidentified people. Four of them have been placed under house arrest, in addition to another who was already under this form of detention, and will be allowed to leave the country when funds are available to Iran.

The US and Iran, which do not maintain diplomatic relations, agreed in June in Oman and Doha to release Americans the US considers “arbitrarily detained” in the Persian country.

Tehran has been accused of using prisoners with dual citizenship and foreigners as leverage or exchanging prisoners with other countries, a practice other countries and human rights groups describe as “hostage diplomacy.”

Contrary to rumours, US President Joe Biden’s administration has ruled out that the talks included a renewal of the 2015 nuclear pact that ousted former US President Donald Trump’s government (2017-2021) and after which Iran accelerated its uranium enrichment. . (Source: Agerpres)