US Emphasis on 'Tradition of Hosting Foreign Representatives' Regardless of Their Countries' Policies

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, emphasized in a Wednesday press conference the tradition of hosting foreign representatives in response to a question about allowing Ibrahim Raisi and his delegation into the US, regardless of their countries' policies. Concerns regarding 'unrestricted movements of Islamic Republic diplomats in New York' were also raised, and Miller confirmed that there are currently no plans to reimpose previous restrictions. In response to a question about the expiration of the 'UN arms embargo against the Islamic Republic' in October 2023 and the 'bipartisan congressional resolution to reinstate related sanctions,' he stated that 'I need to look into the matter further,' refraining from commenting. During the press conference, Miller criticized the Trump administration, noting that the previous government did not establish a 'supervisory mechanism' when exiting the JCPOA, allowing the Islamic Republic access to billions of dollars from escrow accounts. Journalists sought to explore this issue further, asking for details on the billions withdrawn from India, Turkey, Japan, and South Korea, but the State Department spokesperson replied that the United States does not have exact figures but has information indicating 'significant' withdrawals. Simultaneously, journalists questioned whether these countries—especially India, South Korea, and Japan—were aware of the 'OFAC restrictions' on escrow funds and whether they had complied with these restrictions. Mr. Miller acknowledged that he could not speak on the procedures of these countries but emphasized the importance of direct US oversight and transparency in 'future transactions.' In response to a question about whether the current administration has established laws and restrictions for the use of escrow funds with greater transparency, he stated that the United States has created a new account in Qatar based on laws that facilitate direct control over the use of the fund. Previously, Voice of America reported on September 12 that Iran's blocked funds, which are transferred from South Korean banks to accounts in Qatar, will be 'under very strict supervision of the US Treasury' and 'can only be spent for humanitarian and charitable purposes.' Matthew Miller stated in a press conference on Tuesday that: 'We will remain vigilant and will monitor how this money is spent, and we can re-block it if necessary.'