Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference on Monday, Kanaani hailed the government’s successful efforts to secure the release of the financial resources of Iran that had been blocked under the US’ illegal sanctions.
He also highlighted Iran’s serious attention to the rights of its nationals who have been arrested illegally by the US.
Pointing to reports that Iran’s assets frozen in South Korea will be unblocked in exchange for the release of a number of US citizens, the spokesman said, “Iran has received the necessary guarantee of implementation of the contents of this agreement.”
Giving an assurance that the exchange of prisoners with the US will happen within the framework of the understanding and considering the judicial procedures, Kanaani described the process as part of Iran’s use of diplomatic capacities.
“We have made the deal within the framework of a bilateral understanding and the role played by our friends in the region. Two matters were important for us, the liberation of the Iranian citizens who had been held in custody on bogus charges and the unblocking of part of the Iranian nation’s assets that had been blocked under the US’ pressure,” he added.
“We held negotiations with the US government via an intermediary, and a definite period of time has been considered for the issue to take place,” he stated.
On Friday, the foreign ministry confirmed the ongoing process of releasing $6 billion worth of Iran’s funds, which have been unlawfully held in South Korea due to US sanctions.
The ministry emphasized that releasing the funds has consistently been on its agenda, noting that these funds were “illegally blocked” under the pretext of “overseas banks’ concerns about America’s oppressive sanctions.”
