Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Syrian sources: The Israeli occupation has begun withdrawing from the areas it infiltrated last night in the Quneitra countryside.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Massive bombings in eastern Gaza, the second within half an hour, and its sound was heard from central area.
Russian air defense units destroyed a drone that was heading toward Moscow.
Maduro: Tomorrow, a business meeting will be held bringing together hundreds of entrepreneurs from advanced Russian industries with hundreds of Venezuelan businesspeople.
Maduro: In the face of threats, Trinidad and Tobago agreed to suspend all effects of the energy agreement and everything that had been agreed upon in that regard.
Maduro: It’s time to make a choice, either stand with the warmongers who want death and violence, or stand with life.
Maduro: They want our wealth. This is not about drug trafficking, and they know it.
Maduro: Everyone in the world knows that what the economic elite ruling the United States seeks today is Venezuela’s oil, gas, and gold.
Maduro: The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago is complicit and promoting war due to her personal, physical, mental, and moral weaknesses.
President Nicolás Maduro: A series of arrests have been carried out against what could be a group of mercenaries trained and funded by the CIA.

Iran prisoners exchange happening, $6bn unfrozen: US State Dept

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Sep 2023 08:58
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The spokesperson for the State Department stresses that the lifted funds would only be used for Iran’s purchases of humanitarian goods, and that it does not include any lifting on US sanctions against it. 

  • x
  • Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with reporters after meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. (AP)
    Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with reporters after meeting with Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Barcena at the State Department in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023 (AP)

A spokesperson of the State Department disclosed to Sputnik on Monday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken ratified a waiver last week that would allow the advancement of a prisoner exchange deal with Iran that also lifts the hold on $6 billion of Iranian funds.  

"As we have said previously, the US has agreed to allow the transfer of funds from South Korea to restricted accounts held in financial institutions in Qatar and the release of five Iranian nationals currently detained in the United States to facilitate the release of five US citizens detained in Iran," the spokesperson said on Monday.

"Secretary Blinken signed a waiver last week enabling the effectuation of this transfer. It was a critical step in securing the release of these five US citizens."

According to sources, "American prisoners will fly to Qatar from Tehran, and Iranian prisoners will fly from the US to Qatar, and then be transferred to Iran."

Related News

How an unknown embassy aide shaped US-'Israel' policy: RS

US to deny visas to PA officials ahead of UN summit on statehood

Read more: Despite US-Iran prisoner swap deal, return to nuclear deal not certain

The spokesperson stressed that the lifted funds would only be used for Iran’s purchases of humanitarian goods and that it does not include any lifting of US sanctions against it. 

The State Department noted that the released funds do not contain any US taxpayer money and that the funds will be transferred to restricted accounts in Qatar while the US maintains oversight on how the funds are being used, according to the spokesperson who also stated that the US will continue to cooperate and secure the release of other Americans it sees "unjustly" captured by Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed last month that in March 2022, a written agreement was signed with Washington regarding the exchange of prisoners through mediators.

In mid-February, NBC News cited four sources as saying that "the Biden administration is holding indirect discussions with Iran on a possible prisoner exchange in a bid to secure the release of American citizens imprisoned in Iran, with Qatar and the United Kingdom playing an intermediary role in the talks."

It is noteworthy that on August 17, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani expressed Iran's readiness to exchange prisoners with the United States.

  • US state department
  • US
  • Antony Blinken
  • Iran
  • Qatar

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS