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
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv
Al-Qassam: To our free prisoners: Gaza, its Resistance, have given their most precious possessions, have striven with all their might to break your chains; we pledge that your cause will remain at the top of our national priorities until you are all freed.

Unfreezing assets in S.Korea part of prisoner exchange deal

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Oct 2022 21:46
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Nour News agency states that the prisoner exchange talks between the US and Iran, through a third country's mediation, include the possibility of releasing frozen Iranian funds.

  • x
  • Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran
    Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran has recently allowed Iranian-American, Baqer Namazi, 85, to leave the country for medical treatment abroad and released his son, Siamak, 50, from detention. This information has recently emerged as part of the ongoing debate regarding a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the US through a third-country mediation.

A report released by Nour News Agency stated that "the prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States includes the exchange of 4 prisoners for 4 prisoners and the release of Iran's frozen assets in South Korea."

Furthermore, Nour News indicated that "the agreement on the prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States was made months ago, but the American side did not announce its readiness to implement it until now," stressing that "the release of the Iranian-American Baqir Namazi was done for humanitarian reasons and has nothing to do with the deal."

On the same topic, the Iranian Tasnim news agency reported that "with the continuation of mediation talks between Iran and the United States, it was agreed that the central bank of one of the countries in the region will be the bank in which the freed money from South Korea will be deposited."

Earlier, IRNA news agency quoted unnamed informed sources as predicting "the imminent release of $7 billion of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea as part of a prisoner release deal between Iran and America."

It is worth noting that several billion dollars in Iranian funds have been seized in a number of countries, including South Korea and Japan. These funds were seized after the US reimposed harsh sanctions against Iran in 2018 after the US unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 JCPOA agreement.

Related News

No direct communication between Tehran-Washington: Source to IRNA

US, Qatar dedicated to uphold terms of Iran unfrozen assets: Qatari FM

Today, October 3, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that "the release of frozen funds in South Korea is not subject to any condition or party outside the relations between the two countries," noting, "We will announce the details when the talks on this file are over."

In 2021, Tehran has accused Seoul of keeping $7 billion in its funds "hostage" and has repeatedly demanded their release.

The agency added that the past weeks witnessed "intensive negotiations mediated by one of the countries in the region for the simultaneous release of prisoners between Iran and America and billions of dollars of Iranian assets, as part of the prisoner exchange deal."

Seoul did circumvent sanctions in early 2022, however, paying $18 million in frozen Iranian funds to pay Tehran's UN dues and restore the country's voting rights at the international organization. 

Iran has called on South Korea to release the assets regardless of the outcome of the talks between Tehran and major powers aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

IRNA reported that the possibility of liberating the funds at a time when the "negotiations to return to the nuclear agreement have remained without result so far due to the Americans' failure to resolve their political decision," noting an American desire to "follow up on the issue of releasing a number of Washington nationals detained in Iran in conjunction with freeing frozen Iranian assets in South Korea."

Read more: Iran launches legal battle at UN to free billions stolen by US

  • Iranian funds
  • frozen assets
  • US
  • Prisoner Exchange
  • South Korea
  • Iran

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta
Palestine

'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta

drop site
Politics

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

ap
Politics

SDF, Damascus reach preliminary deal to integrate forces

Palestinians search through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Politics

Gaza families return to ruins, searching for their loved ones

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