US releases $6bn in frozen Iran funds for prisoner swap - BBC News

The US allows banks to move $6bn from South Korea, paving the way for the release of five Americans.

3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, Tens of billions of dollars belonging to Iran have been frozen in bank accounts because of US sanctionsBy David GrittenBBC NewsThe US has issued a sanctions waiver for banks to transfer $6bn (£4.8bn) of frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, paving the way for the release of five Americans held by Iran.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress that the money would provide "limited benefit" to Iran as it could only be used for humanitarian trade.

He also confirmed that five Iranians detained in the US would be freed as part of the prisoner exchange deal.

Republicans condemned the transfer.

One senator accused President Joe Biden of paying a "ransom to the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-66784817?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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