Blinken says he spoke by cellphone to Individuals freed in Iran
NEW YORK: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned Monday that he spoke to 5 US residents free of Iran after they landed in Qatar in a swap.
“It is excellent to have the ability to say that our fellow residents are free,” Blinken informed reporters in New York.
“I can inform you that it was for them, for me, an emotional dialog.”
President Joe Biden authorized the swap regardless of Republican criticism. As a part of the deal, South Korea shifted $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds to an account in Doha that US officers say is restricted to humanitarian use.
US permits $6bn switch as a part of Iran prisoner swap
“President Biden has demonstrated that he is ready to make robust and troublesome choices,” Blinken mentioned.
“I’ve no larger precedence. The president has no larger precedence than ensuring that Individuals who’re unjustly detained anyplace can come house and we are going to proceed that work.”
Blinken mentioned that the prisoner swap was a “completely different observe” from different points with Iran comparable to its contested nuclear program.
“We have been centered on working independently to carry these Individuals house, so it would not communicate to the rest within the relationship,” he mentioned.
