US agrees to unfreeze Iranian funds held in Qatar and other countries, Iranian source says
A senior Iranian source said on Saturday the U.S. had agreed to release Iranian frozen assets that were held in Qatar and other foreign banks, welcoming the move as a sign of “seriousness” in reaching a deal with Washington in talks in Islamabad, the Reuters news agency reported.
The source, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was “directly linked to ensuring safe passage through Strait of Hormuz”, which is expected to be a key issue in the talks.
The $6 billion, originally frozen in 2018, had been due for release in 2023 as part of a U.S.-Iranian prisoner swap but the funds were again frozen by the administration of President Joe Biden after the genocidal war on Gaza begun.
This comes as top U.S. and Iranian officials gathered in the Pakistani capital Islamabad to hold talks that seek to end the war in the Middle East that has killed thousands, roiled energy supplies and hurt the global economy.
Key Issues on the Table
Iran wants a ceasefire in Lebanon, where the Zionist attacks have killed nearly 2,000 people since the start of the fighting in March. “Israel” and the U.S. have said Lebanon is not part of the Iran-U.S. ceasefire while Tehran insists it is.
Tehran wants the U.S. to unblock Iranian assets and end sanctions that have crippled its economy for years. Washington has indicated that it is open to significant sanctions relief but only in exchange for concessions from Iran on its nuclear and missile programmes.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, Iran wants acknowledgment of its authority over it, while the U.S. wants the waterway opened for oil tankers and other traffic without any limitations, including tolls.
Iran is also expected to demand compensation for all damage during the six-week war. The U.S. has not commented on this.
Tehran, moreover, keeps insisting on enriching uranium, a demand which Washington has ruled out. Meanwhile, the U.S. wants Iran’s missile capabilities to be dramatically curtailed, but Iran says its formidable missile arsenal is non-negotiable.
Furthermore, Iran wants withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, cessation of war on all fronts and a commitment to non-aggression. Trump has vowed to retain military assets in the Middle East until a peace deal is reached and warned of a major escalation in fighting if it failed to comply.
