White Home on Saturday dismissed a report that the US had agreed to launch Iran’s frozen belongings held in international banks. The denial comes at a time when American and Iranian delegations are holding negotiations in Islamabad to dealer a ceasefire. A Reuters report cited a senior Iranian supply claimed that US had agreed to launch Iran’s frozen belongings held in Qatar and different international banks.
The identical supply additionally stated that the proposed unfreezing of belongings was “instantly linked to making sure protected passage by Strait of Hormuz.”The funds in query quantity to $6 billion. They had been first frozen in 2018 after the US reimposed sanctions on Iran throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump and withdrew from the nuclear cope with Tehran. The cash got here from Iranian oil gross sales to South Korea and was held in South Korean banks.In 2023, the funds had been moved to financial institution accounts in Qatar as a part of a prisoner swap deal between the 2 international locations, mediated by Doha. The settlement concerned the discharge of 5 US residents detained in Iran in alternate for the discharge of 5 Iranians held in the US, together with the switch of the funds.On the time, US officers stated the cash might solely be used for humanitarian functions resembling meals, drugs, medical gear and agricultural items, beneath US treasury oversight.Nevertheless, following the October 7, 2023 assaults on Israel by Hamas, an ally of Iran, the administration of president Joe Biden froze the funds once more. Officers stated then that Iran wouldn’t have the ability to entry the cash for the foreseeable future and that Washington retained the correct to totally block the account.
