Iranian source says US has agreed to unfreeze Iranian funds, Washington denies it
Summary
A senior Iranian source claimed the US agreed to release $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar amid talks in Islamabad, but the US denied this. The funds relate to a 2018 freeze linked to sanctions and were part of a previous prisoner swap agreement.
Key Points
- A senior Iranian source stated the US agreed to unfreeze Iranian funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks.
- The US official promptly denied the claim of agreeing to release those funds.
- The frozen assets, amounting to $6 billion, originated from Iranian oil sales to South Korea and were frozen in 2018 following US sanctions.
- These funds were linked to a US-Iran prisoner swap mediated by Doha in September 2023, and their release was tied to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
