US and Qatar officials have reached an agreement to prevent Iran from accessing the $6 billion in assets that were unfrozen by the Biden administration during a recent prisoner swap with Iran.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo informed House Democrats about this action during a private meeting on Thursday. This decision comes at a time when Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists continue to launch attacks on Israel.
Adeyemo reportedly told House Democrats that the money "isn't going anywhere anytime soon," as stated by three anonymous House Democrat aides.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations responded to this development, asserting that the money rightfully belongs to the people of Iran and is intended for the government to acquire essential requisites. They emphasized that the US government and the concerned senators are well aware that they cannot renege on the agreement.
During a White House press briefing on Thursday, John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, confirmed that none of the $6 billion has been accessed. He further clarified that the entire amount is still held in a Qatari bank.
The prisoner swap took place in Doha, Qatar, and as part of the agreement, Qatar has agreed to monitor how Iran utilizes the billions of dollars. While the funds were originally intended for humanitarian assistance, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated in an interview that the money belongs to the Iranian people and government, giving them the authority to decide its usage.
Recent reports have revealed that Iran has been assisting Hamas in planning attacks on Israel since August, with the final approval given by the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps last week.
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