Confirmation of News: 'Permission for Iran to Access Part of Blocked Funds in Iraq'

The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department responded to a question from a Voice of America reporter regarding the Islamic Republic's access to financial resources abroad, stating: 'Iran can only access funds held in Iraqi accounts for humanitarian and non-sanctioned transactions.' According to Voice of America, Matthew Miller elaborated on the reasons for this action, saying: 'These are actions that have been taken for several years and relate to the previous administration, where the United States continuously approved similar transactions in accordance with U.S. laws and in full coordination with the Iraqi government.' Earlier, a senior official from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Baghdad had agreed to pay $2.76 billion in gas and electricity debts to Iran. This Iraqi diplomat, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, claimed that Fuad Hussein, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, received this permission during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the Riyadh conference last Thursday. In this context, Ahmad al-Sahhaf, spokesperson for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, briefly mentioned progress 'regarding financial debts between Iraq and Iran' during the meeting between Fuad Hussein and Antony Blinken, but refrained from providing further details. Additionally, Iranian media reported, citing Yahya al-Es'hag, head of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, that part of Iran's blocked assets in Iraq is intended to cover the costs of pilgrims for Hajj, while another portion will be used to secure essential goods. Claims of Iran regarding the release of blocked funds in Iraq, Iraq's agreement to pay about $3 billion in debts to Iran, claims of '20 billion euros' investment in Iran; Siamak Ghazemi: the 'news therapy' project is ongoing, and the repeated promises of Islamic Republic officials regarding the release of oil dollars; news that is continuously announced and denied.