Five Released Americans Arrive in Qatar; Blinken: Bringing Americans Home is Our Top Priority

A flight carrying American citizens imprisoned in Iran, who left Tehran on Monday morning as part of a prisoner exchange agreement, landed at Doha Airport in Qatar. Thus, the prisoner exchange agreement between Iran and the United States was executed simultaneously with the transfer of the Islamic Republic's frozen funds from South Korea to Qatar. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, wrote in a post on social media platform 'X': 'Imad Sharqi, Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other citizens have left Iran and are on their way home after enduring unimaginable cruelty, some for many years, as prisoners of the Iranian regime.' He added: 'There is no priority higher than bringing home unjustly detained Americans.' The five Iranian-American citizens had been transferred from prison to a location outside of prison since August 10, following the announcement of an agreement between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. This agreement also included the transfer of $6 billion of Iran's blocked funds in South Korea to Qatar and the release of five Iranians who had been 'convicted or accused' in the U.S. The released American citizens from Iran boarded a Qatari plane. Earlier, the Associated Press reported that the Biden administration had paved the way for the prisoner exchange by issuing a general 'waiver' for international banks to transfer $6 billion of Iran's frozen funds from South Korea to Qatar 'without fear of U.S. sanctions.' According to the news agency, Antony Blinken signed the 'sanction waivers' late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials stated they had reached a preliminary agreement to free American prisoners in Iran. Based on information received by the Associated Press, the U.S. Congress was not informed of the 'sanction waivers' decision until Monday, September 11. However, according to Voice of America, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department responded to reports about the issuance of a sanction waiver by stating that it was not a 'sanction waiver' but merely a technical approval for a previously announced fund transfer. The spokesperson said: 'The United States has allowed the transfer of blocked Iranian funds from South Korea to restricted accounts in financial institutions in Qatar to facilitate the release of five detained American citizens; this is why the U.S. Secretary of State signed a waiver last week to enable this transfer.' On August 10, Iran transferred four dual nationals from Evin Prison to another controlled location, reportedly in a hotel in Tehran. The fifth person had previously been placed under house arrest. Antony Blinken stated on the same day that this action was the first step in a process that would lead to the return of these five individuals to the U.S. Siamak Namazi, 51, and Imad Sharqi, 59, both businessmen, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, an environmental activist, are three of the five dual nationals released. The identities of the fourth and fifth individuals have not been disclosed, but it is said that one of them is a woman. On the other hand, the Iranians released in the U.S. have committed serious crimes such as circumventing U.S. sanctions against Iran. Voice of America previously reported the names of these individuals as Amin Hassan-Zadeh, Mehrdad Ansari, Kambiz Attar Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani, and Kaveh Lotfollah Afrasiabi. Various countries and human rights organizations claim that the Islamic Republic takes foreign citizens hostage by making false accusations against them, including environmental activists detained in Iran, to use them as leverage in foreign negotiations. Users reacted to the potential release of dual-national hostages: 'This is the piracy of the Islamic Republic's policy.' Reuters: Blinken has issued a sanction waiver for the transfer of frozen Iranian funds from South Korea. Reuters: Iran and the U.S. are on the verge of a prisoner exchange mediated by Qatar. An Iranian judicial official stated: 'Details of the prisoner exchange will be announced upon the full implementation of the agreements.' Exclusive: The U.S. continues to enforce 'strict' sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Criticism regarding 'ransom payments' to the Islamic Republic; the U.S. states that financial resources will only be used to purchase food and medicine. Tehran: The prisoner exchange with the U.S. will be within the framework of an 'understanding.' The U.S. states that the released Iranian funds are for purchasing non-sanctioned items; users: 'This is shameful.' Reactions from newspapers regarding the exchange of dollars for several dual nationals; hardliners: 'Victory without ransom'; government critics: 'The agreement is out of necessity.' The deputy of Raisi stated: 'Until the complete transfer of $6 billion, American prisoners will remain in Iran.' A review of the events of August 10 'on the path to freedom' for dual-national hostages in Iran. Details of the prisoner exchange and blocked funds; the U.S. states that its policy towards Iran has not changed.