The Iranian and U.S. flags are seen printed on paper in this illustration taken January 27, 2022.
REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The United States waived sanctions to allow the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, a step needed to carry out a previously announced U.S.-Iran prisoner swap, according to a U.S. document seen by Reuters on Monday.
According to the State Department document seen by Reuters, Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined that waiving the sanctions was in the national security interests of the United States.
The document said the transfer of funds would only provide "limited benefit to Iran" since the funds can only be used for humanitarian trade.
The transfer of the $6 billion and the prisoner exchange could take place as early as next week, according to eight Iranian and other sources familiar with the negotiations.
Persons:
Dado Ruvic, Antony Blinken, Adrienne Watson, Humeyra Pamuk, Jeff Mason, Arshad Mohammed, Jonathan Oatis, Sandra Maler, Deepa Babington, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
Iranian, REUTERS, Rights, United, Reuters, State Department, United State, National Iranian Oil Company, Central Bank of, Thomson
Locations:
U.S, United States, South Korea, Qatar, Iran, Republic of Korea, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Central Bank of Iran