A senior Iranian source confirms on Saturday that the United States agrees to release frozen Iranian assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks. Officials welcome the move as clear proof of seriousness from Washington during the high-stakes talks now underway in Islamabad. The source, who stays anonymous because of the topic’s sensitivity, tells Reuters that unfreezing the money directly supports safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. This remains a major point on the agenda.
Iranian Sources Link Funds to Strait of Hormuz Security
The senior source does not reveal the exact value of the assets. Yet a second Iranian official steps forward and states that the United States specifically agrees to free up $6 billion in frozen funds currently held by Qatar. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry chooses not to comment right away on the reports. These developments come as negotiators work hard to build trust and move toward a broader deal. This deal aims to stabilize the region.
However, a US official quickly pushes back and denies any agreement to unfreeze Iranian assets. The $6 billion originally froze in 2018 after President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions and ended the nuclear deal with world powers. Later, in 2023, the money transferred to Qatari accounts as part of a prisoner swap mediated by Doha. That deal freed five US citizens from Iran in exchange for the funds. It also included the release of five Iranians held in the United States. At the time, officials limited the money strictly to humanitarian needs such as food, medicine, and agricultural goods under tight US Treasury oversight.
