Iran’s president has stated that the $6bn (£4.8bn) released by the United States under a prisoner exchange deal will be spent as determined by the Iranian government.
To facilitate the release of a British national and four Americans held in Iran, the US has granted a sanctions waiver for international banks to transfer the frozen Iranian funds.
The assets will be relocated from South Korea to Qatar, where Iran will have the ability to utilize them for purchasing humanitarian goods.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Sky’s US partner network, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said, “This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran and naturally we will decide, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will decide to spend wherever we need it.”
Responding to NBC News presenter Lester Holt’s question in Tehran about whether the money will be used for purposes other than humanitarian aid, Mr Raisi stated, “Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need.
“This money will be budgeted for those needs and the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.”
Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the agreement, but Congress was not informed until Monday.
According to US officials, four of the individuals held in Iran were released from prison and placed under house arrest last month.
The US-Iranian dual nationals include businessmen Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Shargi, 58, as well as environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, 67, who holds British citizenship.
All three had been incarcerated at Tehran’s infamous Evin Prison on charges of espionage.
The identity of the fourth US citizen released from prison has not been revealed, while a fifth individual was already under house arrest.
The agreement also includes the release of five unidentified Iranian citizens held in the US.
When Holt asked Mr Raisi about the timing of the release of the Americans, he replied, “The arrangements have been done.
“The final action of swapping the prisoners should be finalized in due time.”
Regarding their health, he stated, “Yes, they are very healthy and according to our latest information, they are in full health.”
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The agreement has faced criticism from Republicans, with Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas accusing President Joe Biden‘s administration of “paying ransom to the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism”.
Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa labeled it “ridiculous… to be blackmailed”.
The families of the Americans held in Iran referred to their loved ones as “hostages” taken captive on false charges and used as bargaining chips by the government.
Namazi, who was convicted of espionage-related charges in 2016 and which the US has rejected as baseless, has been detained by Iran for over seven years.
Tahbaz was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for “assembly and collusion against Iran’s national security” and working as a spy for the US.
Shargi was convicted of espionage in 2020 and also sentenced to 10 years in prison.