Transfer of Iran's unfrozen funds to Qatar to be finalized next week
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Qatar played a key role in mediating talks between Iran and the United States that led to a prisoner exchange deal on August 10.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, speaks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as they arrive for a joint press briefing, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 (AP)
In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that the transfer of Iran's unfrozen funds in South Korea to bank accounts in Qatar, as part of a prisoner exchange deal with the US, is expected to be completed next week.
Qatar played a key role in mediating talks between Iran and the United States that led to a prisoner exchange deal on August 10.
The deal included the release of five prisoners from each country and the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korean banks since 2018 due to US sanctions.
The transfer of the funds was delayed by more than a month due to a daily limit on the amount of exchange possible for Iranian funds that were in South Korean won.
Read more: South Korean, Iranian diplomats discuss Iran's frozen assets
According to unconfirmed details that were published in media reports earlier in the week, the Swiss National Bank provided assistance in converting Iranian funds into a usable currency, and Qatar covered the associated banking fees, as part of the prisoner exchange agreement.
During the phone call, Amir-Abdollahian praised Qatar for its role in mediating the prisoner exchange deal with the US and also reiterated that both sides are ready to swap prisoners on the agreed date.
Iran has already released five US prisoners to house arrest as part of a prisoner exchange deal, and the country's mission at the UN has also identified five Iranians who will be released from US prisons.
Read more: Tehran 'ready' to resume JCPOA talks based on 2022 draft: Iran FM
In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Lester Holt held in Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed that his government will make determinations regarding the utilization of the $6 billion in previously frozen funds set to be released as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with the US.
The Iranian President specifically stated that this money would be allocated based on their specific needs and requirements.
During the interview, Raisi hinted that the individuals from the US currently detained in Iran would be returning home in the near future, assuring that the US-Iran prisoner exchange agreement would be finalized "in due course," emphasizing the good health of the detainees.
In reaction to Raisi's statements, a high-ranking official from the Biden administration stated that the released funds would initially be transferred to Qatar. Subsequently, the Treasury Department would maintain rigorous oversight over all transactions to guarantee that the funds are solely directed toward humanitarian endeavors.
The official elaborated, saying, "The funds will be securely held in a Qatar-based bank, and every individual transaction will be closely monitored by the US Treasury. The sole purpose is for humanitarian aid."
On another note, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on Tuesday that the exchange of American and Iranian prisoners will not occur during the current week.
"I would say just for your planning purposes, you should not expect to see any movement in terms of the American citizens being released this week," Miller said during a press briefing.
