Logo
5 out of 12 Articles
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

Iranian President Laughs at the Biden Administration by Saying He'll Use $6 Billion from 'Hostage' Deal on Whatever He Wants

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says his country will use $6 billion in unlocked funds 'wherever we need it' – rejecting a limitation in negotiations with the U.S. that limits the money to 'humanitarian purposes.' Raisi's comments come a day after the Biden administration announced the extraordinary deal that would free five detained Americans while unlocking the funding for Tehran.

'This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and naturally, we will decide – the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide – to spend it wherever we need it. How to spend our money, of course, it is under the authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran,' he said.

Pressed by journalist Lester Holt that it could be used for 'more than humanitarian purposes,' he underlined: 'Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need, so this money will be budgeted for those needs. And the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.'

This week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided a waiver for Tehran to gain access to $6 billion in oil revenues that had been blocked by South Korean banks amid sanctions, amid the prisoner exchange. The U.S. says a Qatari bank will oversee funds to ensure they go to humanitarian purposes. (DM / VFI News)

“God, we pray that our allies do not become deceived and provide funds that will be allocated to finance terrorist activities. We urge world leaders to take an austere stance and we hope that no one will suffer because of this hostage deal.”