In a scathing critique, former US President Donald Trump lambasted the Biden administration’s decision to engage in a prisoner swap with Iran, alleging that it involved funneling $6 billion to a regime he labeled as “terrorist.”
Under the shroud of secrecy, the United States has paved the way for the return of $6 billion in assets to Iran as part of a clandestine negotiation that also entails the release of five Iranian detainees.
This accord will facilitate the repatriation of five American citizens currently held in Iran, as reported by Bloomberg.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a letter to Congress on Monday, unveiled a waiver that permits German, Irish, Qatari, South Korean, and Swiss financial institutions to transfer the $6 billion from South Korea without running afoul of US sanctions.
In a Truth Social post, Trump voiced his incredulity, saying, “Can you believe that Crooked Joe Biden is giving $6 Billion to the terrorist regime in Iran? That money be used for terrorism all over the Middle East, and, indeed, the World.”
Furthermore, Trump didn’t mince words in his criticism of President Joe Biden, characterizing him as “incompetent” and accusing him of “undermining America.”
He warned of the potential consequences of paying for hostages, predicting that it could lead to a surge in kidnappings, ransom demands, and blackmail against American citizens worldwide.
As a candidate in the running for the 2024 US presidential elections, Trump asserted, “I freed many dozens of our people from various unfriendly countries and never paid a dime!”
On a different note, an Iranian government spokesperson expressed optimism, anticipating the swift completion of the frozen funds’ transfer in the coming days.
Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, emphasized that the primary objective is securing the release of five wrongfully detained Americans. However, she underscored the sensitivity and ongoing nature of this process, clarifying that no individuals would be released into US custody during the current week.
The contours of this deal had been revealed by American officials in early August, following Iran’s relocation of four US citizens from prison to house arrest. Among the detained Americans is Siamak Namazi, incarcerated in Tehran’s Evin prison since October 2015.
This development raises critical questions about the strategic decisions surrounding international diplomacy, as well as the impact of such agreements on global security and geopolitics.
