Iranian Source Denies Any Change In Status Of Funds In Qatar

An Iranian website closely linked to the country’s security council said on Friday that “no change” has occurred in the status of Iranian funds in Qatar.

Noor News, affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic said in a brief note that despite media reports “No change has occurred in Iran's access to its foreign exchange resources in Qatari banks, and the agreement remains in force."

US media reported Thursday that the Biden administration and the Qatari government have agreed to stop Iran from accessing $6 billion in released funds, on deposit in Qatari banks, for humanitarian purchases.

The Washington Post reported that US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo has told House Democrats that after the October 7 bloody Hamas attack on Israel and the death of more than 1,000 civilians, the US and Qatar reached the deal to deny Iran the use of the funds for buying non-sanctionable goods. CBS News called it a "quiet understanding", not a formal agreement.

The Biden administration reached a hostage release deal in August to allow South Korea to unblock $6 billion of Iranian funds and transfer to Qatar in exchange for the release of five Americans held by Iran. Critics slammed the deal, labeling it as “the biggest ransom payout in history”, which would embolden the Iranian regime and encourage hostage taking around the world.

The Biden administration has not confirmed the news about a deal with Qatar to withhold the funds. Asked about the reports, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said,. “None of the funds that now have gone to Qatar have actually been spent or accessed in any way by Iran,” dodging a direct answer.