Blinken says no sanctions relief for Iran under prisoner deal

WASHINGTON Aug 11 (Online): Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday that the United States would offer no sanctions relief to Iran under a draft deal that would free five Americans.

ā€œIn any event, in any respect, Iran will not be receiving any sanctions relief,ā€ Blinken told reporters when asked about the expected release of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds.

ā€œIran’s own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes,ā€ he said.

Blinken said that the United States has been in contact with the families of five Americans freed from prison to house arrest in an expected first step to their release.

ā€œMy belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare, and the nightmare that their families have experienced,ā€ he said.

Blinken said he was not aware of other Americans held in Iran.

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