Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has claimed he has reached a “good understanding” with Qatar over access to the $6 billion in cash paid by President Joe Biden after the prisoner exchange deal with the United States in September 2023.
Biden administration officials continue to insist that access to Iranian funds is limited.
“Qatar has assets of $6 billion. This issue was discussed in a meeting between the central bank governors of the two countries and in a meeting with the emir of Qatar. A full understanding was reached on this point,” Pezeshkian said. said After returning to Tehran on Thursday from a two-day trip to Qatar.
The Iranian president mentioned $6 billion in Iranian assets that were frozen in South Korean banks until September 2023, when the Biden administration takes office. issued The sanctions waiver will allow funds to be transferred to the Qatari Central Bank.
The Biden administration was heavily criticized for paying such a large ransom for just five prisoners released by the Iranians. received Biden's windfall of cash plus five prisoners of their own.
The government claims that the payment is not actually a “ransom”; claimed The Iranian government will only be able to use the funds to purchase “humanitarian supplies.”
Critics argue that because money is fungible, even if the Biden administration keeps its promise to limit Iran's access to funds, giving Iran $6 billion for food and medicine will cost $6 billion. He replied that the dollar would be freed up for more nefarious investments such as arms and financial aid. For Tehran's terrorist proxy network.
Criticism of the $6 billion payment became so intense that the Iranian government felt it necessary to: claim In October 2023, Biden announced that the ransom money would not be recovered and that the United States would not be able to prevent Iran from accessing the funds for any purpose for long.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed Around the same time, Iran somehow always had access to “frozen” funds for humanitarian purposes, only to be unable to use it due to “technical reasons” that were resolved by the Biden hostage deal.
CBS News October 2023 reported A “quiet agreement” was reached between the Biden administration and Qatar to prevent Iran from accessing its $6 billion windfall on the heels of Hamas' atrocities against Israeli civilians on October 7. said.
Pezeshkian said Another “good understanding” reached between Iran and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) oil states on “resolving issues or existing disputes between us” related to wars in Gaza and Lebanon . During his visit to Qatar, he reportedly met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and a delegation from the terrorist organization Hamas.
Pezeshkian said Iran and other Middle Eastern powers will soon “reach a stage where we can have a common language and vision with our neighbors and lead the world with one voice.” I'll let you do it.”
