Israel-Palestine war updates: Why US-Iran $6 billion prisoner swap deal is under scrutiny
Joe Biden's $6 billion prisoner-swap deal with Iran is now under the spotlight after militant group Hamas, long backed by Iran, staged one of the bloodiest attacks on Israel in years. Some Republicans are trying to link Biden to attack. Nikki Haley, one of the Republican presidential candidate for 2024 polls, alleged that allowing Iran access to the billions of dollars improves its budget situation, letting it use the money elsewhere.
«Let's be honest with the American people and understand that Hamas knows, and Iran knows they're moving money around as we speak, because they know $6 billion is going to be released. That's the reality,» she said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has however said that there is not evidence yet of «Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there’s certainly a long relationship.»
Fighting between Israel and Hamas militants continued for the third day, which is likely to drag on. More than 1,100 people have been killed in Palestinian group Hamas's surprise assault on Israel on Saturday and Israel's retaliation.
US-Iran prisoner swap deal — explained
Earlier this year, the Biden administration made public of the Iran prisoner swap deal. Five US citizens detained by Tehran were allowed to leave the country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korea. At the same time, five Iranians held in the United States were allowed to leave. White House officials have clarified that the $6 billion was Iranian money blocked in South Korean banks after former President Donald Trump banned Iran’s oil exports and placed sanctions on its banking sector in 2019.
«At bottom, these are Iranian funds — payments made by South Korea to Iran
