World

Biden administration defends Iran prisoner exchange deal

Five Americans will be freed from Iran on Monday, senior Biden administration officials said, in exchange for releasing five Iranians from US custody and unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian funds abroad.

The wrongfully detained Americans include Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and two other Americans who wish to remain private, a senior Biden administration official told reporters ahead of the exchange.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Siamak’s mother, Effie, and Morad’s wife, Vida, will also be on the plane out of Tehran after having been previously banned from leaving Iran.

The seven individuals will head to Doha and depart “as quickly as possible” before going to Washington to be reunited with their families.

The Pentagon will offer services to families needing help to reintegrate into normal life.

In return for the safe return of the Americans, five Iranians will be granted clemency.

According to the official, they have all been charged or convicted with non-violent crimes. Two of the five have been in prison, and their sentences were “about to expire,” the official said. The other three were awaiting trial and had not yet been convicted.

Two of the Iranians, who do not have legal status in the US, are expected to return to Iran. As for the other three, a second senior administration official said their status “may still need some time to play out.”

The first official said it was a “complicated endeavor.”

No US funds being released

The US officials were quick to bat down criticism for the deal, mainly from Republicans and former Trump administration officials.

Critics have said the release of $6 billion will only encourage Iran and other US adversaries to continue hostage-taking for ransom.

The money Iran will now have access to comes from South Korea for oil it had purchased from Iran years ago, some of which took place under the Trump administration, said the first official.

After being moved from South Korea in a restricted account, the money will now be in another restricted account in Qatar “where they will be available for a very limited category of humanitarian transactions.”

The US officials said this includes food, medicine, medical devices and agricultural products.

They also said there would be a stringent monitoring process to ensure the funds were not used for any sanctionable purchases.

Iranian officials have repeatedly claimed that they will be able to use the money for whatever they want.

But the US officials said they would take action to “lock up” the funds if Iran tried to divert them for anything other than the humanitarian purposes agreed to.

“No money ever goes to Iran,” the first official suggested.

The money is also Iranian, and “these are not taxpayer dollars,” the official added. “No funds into Iran, ever, nor do any funds get paid to Iranian companies or entities.”

Both officials defended the deal when asked what message this could send Russia, which is detaining multiple Americans, or other countries.

“I do think we start with the question of what message would it send to Americans if they were wrongfully detained in a place like Evin prison for years and had no hope of coming home?” the second official said in response to a question from Al Arabiya English.

No sanctions being lifted, only more issued

Next month, a UN arms embargo on Iran is set to expire. European countries had previously considered letting it run out as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from under the previous administration.

Asked by Al Arabiya English what the Biden administration’s stance was on the embargo expiring, the first official said the US government was not lifting any sanctions, even as part of the prisoner exchange.

The US issued sanctions waivers as part of the deal to allow the funds in South Korea to be transferred to Qatar, outside the US financial system. “But that was for that limited purpose to allow the funds to transfer through some European banks ultimately on their way to Doha,” the official said.

Addressing the October arms embargo expiration, the official said Washington would not lift any sanctions and was in active discussions with European partners to ensure that sanctions remain enforced, “particularly when it comes to Iran’s missile and drone program.

The official also said the US was absolutely committed to ensuring Iran never acquired a nuclear weapon.

The official said this week’s deal does not change the US relationship with Iran. “Iran is an adversary and a state sponsor of terrorism. We will hold them accountable wherever possible.”

Increased US troop presence in Middle East

The officials said the increased US force posture in response to Iranian and Iran-backed attacks on US troops in the Middle East has been effective.

They pointed to no attacks on US forces in Syria in over six months when the US retaliated for strikes that injured US troops and killed one US contractor.

No attacks on US troops in Iraq in 13 months have been recorded, the officials said.

The official said that Washington has also increased its interdiction posture to deter weapons shipments into Yemen, adding that the world has witnessed one of the “quietest periods” since the war started in 2014.

“We are focused daily on a policy for the Middle East that combines deterrence with diplomacy to reduce the risk of Iran’s aggression while de-escalating conflicts through diplomacy wherever possible and contributing and building a more stable, integrated, prosperous Middle East region.”

Five US citizens detained in Iran are ‘in full health’: Raisi

World

Saudi Fund for Development Celebrates 50 Years of Global Impact with Over $20 Billion in Development Contributions

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) celebrated its 50th anniversary in Riyadh today, under
the theme “50 Years of Global Impact.”The event brought together key development partners to
reflect on the SFD’s significant contributions to sustainable development worldwide. Over the
past five decades, the SFD has allocated over $20 billion, financing more than 800 development
projects and programs in vital sectors, including social infrastructure (education, healthcare,
water and sewage, and housing and urban development), communication and transportation
(roads, railways, airports and seaports), energy, agriculture, mining and industry, and others.
Since its inception in 1974, the SFD has been the international development arm of the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and has provided critical support to over 100 developing nations around the
world. With a strong focus on supporting countries to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), the SFD has played a pivotal role in driving sustainable development in Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
During the event, SFD Chairman H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized the importance of
collaboration in driving global development. He highlighted that SFD’s success is deeply rooted
in its partnerships, with 27 development projects and programs in 23 developing countries in
2023 co-financed with other funders. He also underscored the need to forge new partnerships and
strengthen existing ones to create a world where every individual has the opportunity to reach
their full potential.
Reflecting on this significant milestone, the SFD CEO , Mr. Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-
Marshad, stated: “As we celebrate five decades of impactful work, we are committed, now more
than ever, to supporting developing countries on their journey to economic self-reliance and
resilience. Our goal is to ensure that all children can go to school, that education is not a
privilege but something every child should have access to, and that families have access to
healthcare and basic vital services. Equally, we focus on critical infrastructure development, like
building roads and enhancing airports and sea ports, so that countries can thrive and engage in
economic activities and trade. This work is not just about financing; it’s about tangibly
improving lives, creating opportunities, empowering communities, and building a more
prosperous future.”
On the sidelines of the 50 th Anniversary Gala, the SFD and the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
signed a new $25 million agreement to co-finance a renewable energy development project in the
Solomon Islands. This marks the first project for SFD in the Solomon Islands. The primary aim

of the project is to develop renewable energy infrastructure, reduce dependency on fossil fuels,
and promote sustainable development in the region.
This agreement builds on SFD’50 years of transformative impact through development projects
that have spanned Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern
Europe.
This includes key projects such as the Metolong Dam in Lesotho, which received $25 million in
funding and now provides potable water to 280,000 people, enhancing water security and public
hygiene and health in the region. This is just one of the 433 projects across Africa, with a total
funding of $11.5 billion, which focuses on critical areas such as infrastructure and water security.
In Asia, the SFD has funded 271 projects with a total funding of $7.8 billion. One notable
example is the SFD’s contribution to the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project in Pakistan, which
has an overall project cost of $240 million. The projects contributes to the country’s energy
security and flood resilience by generating 800 megawatts of renewable energy and storing 1.6
million cubic meters of water.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the SFD has financed 21 projects, totaling $951 million
USD. This includes rehabilitating the Water and Sewage System in Havana, Cuba, where the
SFD has allocated $35 million to enhance public infrastructure. Another significant initiative is
the rebuilding of St. Jude Hospital in Saint Lucia, supported by $75 million funding, which will
contribute to providing high-quality health services to citizens in a modern and sophisticated
facility and providing sufficient medical supplies and equipment to support the effective
operation of the hospital.
In Eastern Europe, the SFD has contributed to 14 projects with a total investment of $303
million. A key initiative is the construction of the Tirana-Elbasan-Chokos-Chalf-Ploce Road,
where the SFD provided $73.8 million to rebuild essential roads and bridges, thereby boosting
regional economic activities.
During the celebration, esteemed speakers shared insights on the SFD’s pivotal role in global
development, and in championing critical partnerships and collective action and response.
Keynote speakers included:

 HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud, Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal
Foundation
 H.E. Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SFD
 H.E. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group
 H.E. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank

These global development leaders emphasized the SFD’s commitment to fostering sustainable
growth in countries and communities with the most pressing developmental needs. The gala was attended by more than 500 people, including ministers, heads of regional and international organizations, ambassadors, representatives of the United and other distinguished
guests. As the SFD looks to the future, it reaffirms its mission and pledge to drive international
development efforts, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to contribute to global
stability, social progress, and economic prosperity for future generations.

World

Jordan warns of escalation in southern Lebanon

Jordan warned on Sunday of the increasing escalation in southern Lebanon and a potential regional war in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufian Qudah discussed supporting Lebanon, its security, stability and the safety of its people and institutions, noting the need to adhere to Security Council Resolution 1701 to reduce and prevent further escalation and protect the region from the risk of slipping into a regional war.

Qudah added that the Israeli war on Gaza and the failure to reach an exchange agreement that leads to an immediate and permanent ceasefire puts the entire region at risk of the conflict expanding.

He discussed launching an effective international movement that imposes an immediate cessation of the aggression on Gaza.

World

China issues guidelines for coordinated digital, green transformation

China’s Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and nine central departments have issued new guidelines for the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Published on Saturday, the guidelines focus on two main areas: promoting the green, low-carbon development of digital industries and accelerating the green transformation of various sectors through digital technology.

They aim to accelerate the coordinated transformation toward digital development and green growth, promote the integration of emerging technologies with green, low-carbon industries, and enhance traditional industries using digital and green technologies.

Outlining fundamental principles, the guidelines specify the roles of authorities, industry associations, universities, research institutes and businesses in driving this transition.

They provide a three-part framework covering the basic capacity, technological systems and industrial systems for digital-green integration.

Regions are encouraged to focus on high-quality development, develop new quality productive forces, leverage local resources and create specialized industries and functional advantages to accelerate coordinated digital and green development.