Us, Iran To Swap Detainees, Qatar Confirms $6Bn Unfrozen

In a groundbreaking development on Monday, a Qatari aircraft stood by in Iran to transport five United States (US) detainees to Doha, marking the successful execution of a deal mediated by Qatar. This exchange involved the release of five Iranians detained in the United States and the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian funds. Sources indicate that the funds have already been transferred to accounts in Qatar, a pivotal step in the carefully negotiated agreement between Iran and the United States, who have long-standing disputes, including Tehran's nuclear ambitions and various other contentious matters. A source privy to the situation revealed, "A Qatari aircraft is on standby in Iran waiting to fly five soon-to-be released U.S. citizens and two relatives to Doha on Monday morning." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, confirmed that the frozen funds, held in South Korea since 2018 due to U.S. sanctions, would become accessible to Tehran on Monday. The deal stipulates that Qatar will ensure the funds are dedicated to humanitarian purposes. The release of the five American detainees, all with dual nationality, is expected to follow their arrival in Doha, with their ultimate destination being the United States. In return, five Iranians detained in the U.S. will regain their freedom. Two of the released Iranians will return to Iran, while two have chosen to remain in the U.S., and one detainee will reunite with their family in a third country. This deal represents a significant step in easing tensions between the U.S., which designates Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, and Iran, which refers to Washington as the "Great Satan." However, numerous disputes still exist, spanning Iran's nuclear program, regional influence, U.S. sanctions, and military presence in the Gulf. Qatar, a wealthy Gulf Arab nation, has actively pursued a higher global profile, recently hosting the FIFA World Cup and participating in international diplomacy. Despite hosting a significant U.S. military base, Qatar has also cultivated close ties with Iran. As part of the agreement, Qatar will oversee the utilization of the unfrozen funds to ensure they are allocated exclusively to humanitarian necessities such as food and medicine, avoiding any items subject to U.S. sanctions. The transfer of these funds has faced criticism from U.S. Republicans, who allege that it amounts to a ransom payment for American citizens. Nevertheless, the White House has defended the deal. Among the released U.S. dual citizens are Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, and Morad Tahbaz. Additionally, one U.S. citizen has been placed under house arrest, and another was already under such conditions. The five Iranians to be released by the U.S. have been named as Mehrdad Moin-Ansari, Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Reza Sarhangpour-Kafrani, Amin Hassanzadeh, and Kaveh Afrasiabi, though it is unclear if all will remain in the United States. U.S.-Iran relations have been fraught since former President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2018 nuclear deal. Prospects for a new agreement remain uncertain, with President Joe Biden focused on the upcoming 2024 U.S. election. The initial step of waiving sanctions allowed the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, marking a significant development after years of financial restrictions imposed by Washington.