US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday that the Biden administration’s comprehensive strategy toward Iran remains unaltered subsequent to an accord concerning detained Americans, asserting that Washington will persist in its course of action encompassing deterrence, pressure, and diplomacy.
Speaking on Monday, Blinken engaged in conversations with the families of certain detainees who were released to house arrest last week, as he informed journalists during a press briefing.
“There exists no concordance between our parties on nuclear issues. The agreement we are actively pursuing to repatriate unjustly confined individuals in Iran constitutes an entirely distinct matter we are committed to concluding successfully. That is my foremost focus,” he remarked.
Blinken further reiterated the White House’s declaration that specific limitations will be imposed on Iran’s utilization of any unfrozen funds as per the accord. He affirmed robust oversight of the funds by the United States.
On Thursday, August 10, an announcement was made regarding the potential liberation of five detained US citizens by Iran, constituting a facet of an agreement that would unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian assets located in South Korea. As an initial step within what could prove to be a multifaceted series of actions, Iran granted the transfer of four detained US citizens from Tehran’s Evin prison to house arrest. The fifth individual was already confined to home quarters.
