US clears way for deal with Iran to free detained Americans
Secretary of State Blinken waived sanctions on $6 billion in Iranian money. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has signed off on a blanket waiver of U.S. sanctions that paves the way for international banks to allow the transfer of roughly $6 billion in Iran oil revenue in exchange for Iran's release of five detained American citizens, a move Congress was informed of Monday, multiple sources familiar with the matter said. Blinken approved the sanctions waiver last week, the sources said. The $6 billion is coming from a restricted account in South Korea, where it was effectively frozen when the U.S. reinstated sanctions against Tehran after former President Donald Trump left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program and will be transferred to Qatar with restrictions on how Iran can spend the funds. The latest development was first reported by the AP. From left to right split shows photos of Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz and Siamak Namazi Handout MORE:...