Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian president said $6 billion of Iran’s frozen assets held in Qatar will be released under the recently announced understanding between Iran and the United States, with the funds expected to be transferred back to Iran.
Iranian state media reported that Pezeshkian said authorities were also pursuing the release of an additional $6 billion, bringing the total amount under discussion to $12 billion. He said arrangements had been made for the released funds to be returned to Iran.
The announcement follows the U.S.-Iran understanding reached through Pakistani mediation, which includes commitments to reduce military tensions in the Gulf, reopen diplomatic channels and address a number of outstanding issues, including maritime security and financial matters. Officials from both countries have said technical negotiations will continue despite the absence of a broader political settlement.
The agreement comes after several days of military escalation in the Gulf, including exchanges of drone and missile attacks between Iranian forces and U.S. military positions in the region. Although both sides later signaled support for de-escalation, regional tensions remain high as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations over implementation of the understanding.
Iranian officials say the release of frozen assets is an important step toward implementing the agreement, while U.S. officials have indicated that further progress will depend on both sides complying with their commitments under the framework.
