Biden reaches $6B deal to free Americans in exchange for jailed Iranians

Five Americans to return home in US-Iranian prisoner swap

Danielle Wallace | Fox News

President Biden has secured a $6 billion deal to free Americans in exchange for jailed Iranians.

The New York Times first reported the prisoner swap agreement Thursday. Once five Americans imprisoned in Iran are allowed to return to the United States, the Biden administration is said to have agreed to release a handful of Iranian nationals serving prison sentences for violating sanctions on Iran.

Sources told the Times the United States also agreed to unfreeze nearly $6 billion of Iran’s assets in South Korea, transferring the funds into an account in the central bank of Qatar. 

The American prisoners include Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi and Morad Tahbaz, who the U.S. government says were all wrongfully detained on bogus spying charges. The names of the other two were being withheld by their families, but one is said to be a scientist, the other a businessman. 

Biden Reaffirms Plans to Make Oil and Gas Even More Expensive

Katie Pavlich / Townhall Tipsheet

 

Speaking during an interview with The Weather Channel this week while seated near the edge of the Grand Canyon, President Joe Biden vowed to continue his push to halt oil and natural gas drilling in major parts of the United States. 

During his visit to Arizona, Biden declared a million acres off limits for drilling and mining with the establishment of a new National Monument, sparking backlash from local ranchers and western representatives. 

"With today’s announcement, President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland have made it apparent that national security, economic prosperity, and Tribal sovereignty are disposable to them. Biden is shamelessly politicizing the Grand Canyon to appease the radical left and distract from his dereliction of duty just a few hours south at the border," Arizona Congressman Eli Crane released in a statement. "Uranium is critical to American energy and security, and this ridiculous political posturing only makes us more reliant on foreign nations such as China and Russia." Read more, see tweets and videos here.