mechinv: Biden decided to unfreeze the money to secure the release of 5 US prisoners held in Iran. The money was supposed to be monitored to make sure it was used for humanitarian purposes such as food, medicines, etc. I do agree that this money could have fallen into the wrong hands...

Okay. I wanted to stay out of this conversation but since Dope1 is accusing others of having "a 3rd grader's knowledge of politics and world events" and incorrect information about the "$6 billion transferred to humanitarian organizations in Iran" has entered into the conversation, please note: confirmed earlier today by a National Security Council Spokesperson, not a single cent from those funds has been spent yet, and when it is spent, it can only be spent on things like food and medicine for the Iranian people or the funds will be frozen again.

mechinv: That $6B was money that the US owed to Iran anyway for US purchases of Iranian oil.

No. The funds were payment for South Korean purchases of Iranian energy products, primarily condensate, and have sat idle in two South Korean banks. In theory, Iran should have been able to use that money for humanitarian purchases all along. But in practice, the money was inaccessible because the Korean government and banks were concerned about violating U.S. sanctions.

Incidentally, it was the Trump administration that allowed waivers that enabled the Iranian oil sales that generated the $6 billion in the first place.

washingtoninstitute.org - Iran hostage deal clarifying billion transfer

foreignpolicy.com - Trumps big iran oil gamble sanctions waivers end pompeo trump iranian oil exports imports what impact politica