Officials say five Americans detained in Iran to be released ‘soon’
US transfers funds to Iran in planned step
WASHINGTON – Biden administration officials expect the release soon of five Americans detained in Iran after the State Department notified Congress that the Iranians will be given access to $6 billion in funds that have been frozen in foreign accounts, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.
Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a memo that would allow the transfer of $6 billion from a bank in South Korea to another in Qatar of funds the Iranians earned through the sale of oil and other goods that had been under sanctions. None of the money comes from U.S. taxpayers and is not a ransom payment, according to the official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The administration notified Congress on Monday of the transfer as a planned step in obtaining the release of the Americans, the official said. Iran can use the funds only for humanitarian purposes with oversight provided by the U.S. Treasury, Qatar and aid organizations. If Iran cheats, the funds will be frozen, the official said.
The Americans are reported to be in good health, considering their circumstances, according to Swiss official who have met with them, the official said. Their release is expected to occur soon, but the official declined to specify when.
The detained individuals include Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, Morad Tahbaz, and two Americans whose families don’t want their identities made public, according to the National Security Council.
The deal also includes the release of Iranians detained in the United States.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson confirmed the broad outlines of the swap Tuesday, but said in a statement provided to USA TODAY that details have not been finalized.
“This remains a sensitive and ongoing process,” she said. “While this is a step in the process, no individuals have been or will be released into U.S. custody this week.”
A second person, a senior Biden administration official, told USA TODAY that it was the Trump administration that established the funding process through which Iran can tap certain funds overseas for humanitarian transactions including food, medicine, medical equipment and agricultural products. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive ongoing matters.
Iran was unable to tap the funds used in the current case, being held in South Korea, because of quirks in that country’s banking laws and currency, but the Biden administration helped find a way to make the funds available, the administration official said.