The White House today defended a deal with Iran to release five American prisoners that has been heavily criticized by Republicans, insisting that Tehran would not benefit from any lifting of sanctions against it.

On Monday, the US administration confirmed that it had approved the release of $6 billion, an amount that had remained “frozen” in South Korea, in exchange for the release of the five Americans.

“This is not a payment of any kind. It’s not ransom,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “This is not American taxpayer dollars. We have not lifted a single one of our sanctions on Iran,” he insisted.

According to the US, Iran will be able to use these funds to buy food and medicine, items that are not subject to sanctions.

Republican opponents of Democratic President Joe Biden expressed displeasure with the deal, arguing that the administration agreed to pay a “ransom” to the Islamic Republic. Releasing the funds “directly incites America’s adversaries to move forward with new hostages,” complained Mike McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House International Affairs Committee. “The administration is showing weakness, which will do nothing but put Americans and freedom-loving people around the world in even greater danger,” he added.

The Biden administration acknowledged that it made difficult choices, but countered that its priority is the release of the Americans and that the resources to be transferred already belonged to Iran.

Among the five Americans expected to be freed is Shiamak Namazi, a businessman who was arrested in 2015 and charged with espionage on grounds his family described as flimsy, including his past ties to American think tanks.

Two others are the environmentalist Morad Tabaz and the investor Emad Sharqi. The remaining two wish to remain anonymous.