A US official on Saturday rejected claims that Washington had agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, contradicting earlier reports.
Earlier in the day, Reuters cited a senior Iranian official saying the United States had consented to release frozen Iranian funds held in Qatar and other overseas banks. The Iranian source described the move as a positive signal of Washington’s intent to reach an agreement during ongoing talks in Islamabad.
According to the same source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, the potential release of these assets is closely tied to guaranteeing secure maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz — an issue expected to be central in the negotiations. While the exact amount was not initially disclosed, another Iranian official indicated that the US had agreed to free up approximately $6 billion held in Qatar.
However, there has been no official confirmation from Washington regarding any such decision, and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment.
The funds in question date back to 2018, when they were frozen following the reimposition of US sanctions on Iran during former President Donald Trump’s administration. The money, generated from Iranian oil exports to South Korea, had been locked in South Korean banks.
In 2023, as part of a prisoner exchange deal between the US and Iran mediated by Qatar, the funds were transferred to Qatari accounts with the understanding they would be released. The agreement included the exchange of five American detainees in Iran and five Iranians held in the United States.
Despite this, the funds were frozen مرة again after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas, an ally of Iran. At the time, US officials emphasized that Iran would not have access to the money and that Washington retained full authority to keep the assets blocked.
Officials also clarified that even if released, the funds would be strictly limited to humanitarian purposes, such as food, medicine, medical supplies, and agricultural goods, under the supervision of the US Treasury.