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Deputy FM: Tehran seeks access to half of frozen assets upon signing deal
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that a minimum of 50% of its frozen assets abroad should be released simultaneously with the signing any potential memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington.
In an interview with the Mehr news agency published on Thursday, Gharibabadi explained that the issue of releasing Iran's frozen funds is a matter that serves Iran's interests and requires resolution. He added that the determination of which portion should be released first and which could be released later after a certain period remains under discussion.
Gharibabadi emphasized that Iran insists on transferring at least half of its frozen assets promptly following the signing of the memorandum of understanding, with the remaining portion to be released after a reasonable time interval.
The Iranian official clarified that these funds do not belong to Western countries or the United States in a way that would require Tehran to negotiate or seek assistance or financing. Instead, he described the assets as purely Iranian funds that the US illegally froze and prevented other countries from transferring them to Iran.
Talks between Iran and the US, mediated by Pakistan and facilitated by Qatar, are continuing based on Iran’s 14-point proposal. The discussions aim to produce a memorandum to end the joint US-Israeli aggression against Iran, end a blockade on Iran’s ports, and secure the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that there is currently no formal negotiation process underway between Iran and the US.
The two sides, though, retain their communications, Araghchi went on, while noting that the communications had not yielded "any significant progress" over the recent days.
"Both sides are currently reviewing the existing frameworks, and if the conditions are conducive, negotiations will resume on the basis of Iran's national interests, the rights of the Iranian people, and the objective of ending the war in both Iran and Lebanon."
However, US President Donald Trump made a different assessment from the negotiations, saying on Wednesday that talks with Iran are going "very well" and could yield results over the coming weekend.
"I hear the negotiation itself is going very well actually," Trump told reporters, adding that a potential deal “could happen... over the weekend."