US Unfreezes $6 Billion in Iranian Funds for Prisoner Exchange
Plus: The Middle East at the UNGA, Netanyahu meets Biden and Elon Musk, Alibaba invests $2 billion in Turkey, and Syrian President Assad visits China.
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US Unfreezes $6 Billion in Iranian Funds for Prisoner Exchange
Five Americans, freed in a $6 billion exchange with Iran on Monday, arrived in the U.S. at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, this week. The group includes Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz, Emad Shargi, and two unnamed individuals.
The exchange of money and prisoners has faced criticism, notably from President Biden's political opponents, who accuse him of rewarding Iran's detention of U.S. citizens.
The White House argues that the funds originally belonged to Iran, and the Treasury Department will closely oversee their use.
However, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed a different view, stating that Iran can use the funds as it sees fit.
Qatar mediated indirect U.S.-Iran talks concerning the detainees, while Switzerland, representing U.S. interests in Tehran due to the lack of diplomatic relations, facilitated the transfer of funds from South Korea to Qatar.
The Middle East at the UN General Assembly
As every September, world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, which began on September 19 and will continue until September 26. Representatives from Middle Eastern and North African countries are also participating. One noteworthy speaker has been Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, who accused the United States of exacerbating violence in Ukraine, leading to protests from Israel's U.N. representative. Demonstrators outside the U.N. headquarters criticized the organization for giving Iran a platform. Other leaders from the region will deliver their speeches in the coming days, and I will take notes and report on the key themes and speeches related to the region next week.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Meets US President Biden and Elon Musk
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to address the U.N. General Assembly, met with U.S. President Joe Biden.
During their meeting, they pledged to work together on establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, Biden also expressed his intention to address their differences, which include his opposition to Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul plan and concerns about Israel's stance on the Palestinian issue.
During his U.S. visit, Netanyahu also had a meeting with engineer and entrepreneur Elon Musk. They discussed the regulation of artificial intelligence, and Netanyahu commended Musk for supporting freedom of speech, urging him to combat hate speech.
Around the same time, a Wall Street Journal article reported that Saudi Arabia is in early discussions with Tesla, the U.S. electric automaker, about potentially setting up a manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia, although Musk later denied this report on a social media platform. This report followed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's request to Musk to consider building a vehicle factory in Turkey.
Alibaba Invests $2 Billion in Turkey
What Turkey is instead going to get is a $2-billion investment from the Chinese company Alibaba after a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Michael Evans, Alibaba's leader, expressed confidence in Turkey's economy. They've already invested $1.4 billion through Trendyol, Turkey's largest e-commerce platform. While specific investment details weren't provided, the plan is for the near future. Alibaba acquired a majority stake in Trendyol in 2018, and in 2021, the company was valued at $16.5 billion with support from various entities. Alibaba, headquartered in Hangzhou, China, specializes in e-commerce.
Syrian President Assad Visits China
Speaking of China, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Hangzhou, China, today, September 21, marking his first visit since 2004 as he seeks to end a decade-long diplomatic isolation due to Western sanctions.
During his stay, he'll attend the Asian Games opening ceremony and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 22.
Assad's return to the Arab League has faced opposition from the United States, while China, along with Russia and Iran, maintains ties despite international criticism.
China has vetoed U.N. resolutions against Assad's government eight times, the latest in July 2020.
This extended visit is one of Assad's longest periods away from Syria since the uprising began.
China may play a significant role in Syria's costly reconstruction, as it joined China's Belt and Road Initiative last year. Assad was invited by President Xi and is accompanied by a high-ranking Syrian delegation. Syria's economic crisis has sparked protests, with Western sanctions and Kurdish-led fighters controlling major oil fields blamed for exacerbating the situation.
Diplomatic contacts between Syria and other Arab countries have increased following the February 6 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, resulting in significant casualties. After the disaster, Assad traveled to Saudi Arabia in May and attended the Arab League summit after Syria's membership was reinstated in the 22-member organization.
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About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
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Cover photo | Credits: Mohammed Dabbous - Reuters/Source: France 24