Miller: Iran's Funds in Qatar Are 'Under Very Strict Supervision', We Will Block Again If Necessary

The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State stated that Iran's blocked funds, which are transferred from South Korean banks to accounts in Qatar, will be 'under very strict supervision of the U.S. Treasury' and can 'only be used for humanitarian and charitable purposes.' Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in a press conference on Tuesday: 'We will remain vigilant and will monitor how this money is spent, and we can block it again if necessary.' Regarding the exemptions that Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed for the released Iranian funds from South Korean banks, Miller said that 'these exemptions' were 'communicated to Congress yesterday' and were issued 'to facilitate the transfer of Iranian assets that had been blocked in South Korea.' According to the U.S. State Department spokesperson, these assets were transferred from South Korea 'to bank accounts in Europe and ultimately to accounts in Qatar' where they will be available for humanitarian transactions and 'will be under the supervision of the U.S. State Department.' He also added that this action 'will ultimately be used for the release and return of five American citizens who are imprisoned in Iran.' Miller emphasized that these accounts were established by the previous U.S. administration to hold 'funds resulting from Iran's oil sales' and that 'Iran could always access it under what the previous administration had set,' but with the Biden administration coming to power, 'restrictions' were imposed on it. New details have emerged regarding the seemingly imminent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran, with the United States for the first time acknowledging that as part of this agreement, five Iranians imprisoned in the U.S. will be released. According to Voice of America, the U.S. State Department confirmed the release of these five Iranian prisoners in a statement sent to Voice of America on Monday. Hours earlier, Western news agencies reported that Antony Blinken had informed the U.S. Congress of this imminent action. The U.S. and Iran had previously confirmed on August 12 that under this agreement, five American citizens whom Washington claims were wrongfully detained by the Islamic Republic will also be released. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in a written response to Voice of America, said: 'As we have said before, the United States has agreed to the transfer of financial funds from South Korea to restricted accounts in financial institutions in Qatar and the release of five Iranian citizens currently detained in the United States to facilitate the conditions for the release of five American citizens in Iran.' Additionally, see: Exclusive; Details of the exchange of five accused or convicted Iranians in the U.S. with five American prisoners in Iran. The news published on Monday, September 11, that Antony Blinken issued a 'sanction exemption' as part of the prisoner exchange agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic for the transfer of blocked Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, prompted reactions from American Republican lawmakers. Also see: Republican lawmakers' objections; the release of the Islamic Republic's funds is an incentive for more hostage-taking. The U.S. State Department: We did not issue a 'sanction exemption' for Iran, we authorized the transfer of funds. Reuters: Blinken issued a sanction exemption for the transfer of blocked Iranian funds from South Korea. An Iranian judicial official: Details of the prisoner exchange will be announced 'upon the full implementation of the agreements.' Ted Cruz criticized the U.S. and Islamic Republic agreement; this is a $6 billion ransom. Reuters: Iran and the U.S. are on the verge of a prisoner exchange mediated by Qatar. Exclusive; Details of the exchange of five accused or convicted Iranians in the U.S. with five American prisoners in Iran. Republican lawmakers' objections; the release of the Islamic Republic's funds is an incentive for more hostage-taking. Exclusive; which Iranians accused of crimes in the U.S. will be released in the prisoner exchange with Iran?