US and Qatar Strike Deal to Block Iran's Access to $6 Billion in Unfrozen Funds

The US and Qatar have reached an agreement to not allow Iran access to $6 billion in funds that were recently unfrozen as part of a prisoner swap between the US and Iran. While the funds will not be fully refrozen, Qatar will not process any request from Iran to access the money for now. The $6 billion was unfrozen in exchange for Iran releasing five Americans who had been detained. However, the funds had not yet been spent by Iran and could only be used for humanitarian purposes according to the US. The decision to halt Qatar from allowing Iran access to the funds follows the massive attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel last weekend. Although Iran is the main financial backer of Hamas, the US has said it does not have evidence yet that Iran directly played a role in the Hamas attacks.