A report published Thursday revealed that Joe Biden negotiated with the Iranian regime for the release of five American hostages. The agreement includes an exchange of prisoners and access to millions of dollars that the U.S. government froze.
According to the information provided by The New York Times, the Biden Administration offered to release a group of Iranian nationals serving time in prison for violating sanctions against Iran, as well as to release a group of Iranian nationals serving time in prison for violating sanctions against Iran, unfreeze nearly $6 billion and transfer that sum to an account in the central bank of Qatar.
In exchange, the Iranian regime agreed to release Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi and Morad Tahbaz, three Americans detained on allegedly trumped-up espionage charges, and two other Americans who wish to remain anonymous.
U.S. prisoners under house arrest
U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson reported that Iran moved forward on the deal and placed the U.S. hostages under house arrest, where they could be held for a few weeks until they are allowed to fly out.
#INTERNACIONAL | Se da el primer paso de un intercambio de prisioneros entre los EEUU e Irán. Más detalles:
📹 @alexs265 pic.twitter.com/pvvSq8nKaG
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) August 11, 2023
"Until that time, negotiations for their eventual release remain ongoing and are delicate. We will, therefore, have little in the way of details to provide about the state of their house arrest or about our efforts to secure their freedom," the spokeswoman's statement said.
Republicans criticize the agreement
Several Republicans have criticized the Biden Administration's deal with the Iranian regime, highlighting the danger this negotiation poses to other Americans.
"While I welcome home wrongfully detained Americans, unfreezing $6B in Iranian assets dangerously further incentivizes hostage taking and provides a windfall for regime aggression. The Biden Admin must punish those who use Americans as political pawns and work to end this practice," said Jim Risch, a Senate Foreign Relations Committee member.
While I welcome home wrongfully detained Americans, unfreezing $6B in #Iranian assets dangerously further incentivizes hostage taking & provides a windfall for regime aggression. The Biden Admin must punish those who use Americans as political pawns and work to end this practice. https://t.co/n1cXH9ldzR
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) August 10, 2023
Claudia Tenney, a Republican representative from New York, also criticized the U.S. government for negotiating with terrorists and allowing them access to money that will help further fund terrorism and the oppression of Iranians.
The U.S. government should NEVER negotiate with terrorists, let alone fund them.
Now, the Biden administration is giving the Iranian mullahs $6 billion to finance terrorism and oppression of the Iranian people. https://t.co/1XFZIqd4PJ
— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) August 10, 2023
"Releasing $6 billion to the butchers in Tehran just so American hostages can go to a different type of prison is a terrible deal. Iran shouldn't profit from holding Americans hostage," said former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Releasing $6 billion to the butchers in Tehran just so American hostages can go to a different type of prison is a terrible deal. Iran shouldn't profit from holding Americans hostage.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) August 10, 2023
