Iran's deputy foreign minister stated that the 60-day negotiation period with the US will not start until American frozen assets are released as agreed. He added that the nuclear issue will not be discussed until the US fulfills its commitments. The official also claimed that Tehran canceled its attack on Israel after the US promised an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, according to Iran's Fars news agency.
Iran's deputy foreign minister hardened Tehran's position overnight, stating that the 60-day negotiation period with the United States will not begin until frozen Iranian assets are released — linking the start of nuclear talks to upfront financial concessions. Speaking to Iranian media and reported by the semi-official Fars agency, he added that the nuclear file will not be discussed before the US fulfills its commitments. The official also made an unverified claim that Iran canceled a planned attack on Israel after the US promised an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon; no Israeli, American, or Lebanese source has corroborated it.
The statement updates a fast-moving story thread. At 00:03 Jerusalem — the desk's first published version — President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he would imminently confirm an Iran deal, though Tehran had not yet agreed. By 00:03 Jerusalem, the desk reported that Trump confirmed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed, a point reiterated in subsequent bulletins at the same timestamp. At that same time, the desk reported that Iran's deputy foreign minister stated the MoU text was agreed and signing was set for Friday in Switzerland, before later adding that formal negotiations would take place within a 60-day window after signing. The latest demand — that the 60-day clock only starts after asset release — marks a hardening from that earlier position.
Attributed background: The Zioneer reported on June 12 that Iranian media described a potential deal including $24 billion in frozen assets and a 60-day nuclear negotiation window. On the same day, a senior US official said no frozen funds would be released until Iran fulfills its commitments, as The Zioneer reported at 17:15 Jerusalem. On June 13, a senior US official stated that Israel would not be asked to leave Lebanon until a final Iran-Lebanon deal is signed — a timeline of at least 60 days, as The Zioneer reported.
What remains open: The claim that Iran canceled an attack on Israel in exchange for a promised Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon is unverified and unsupported by any independent source. The core sequencing question — whether assets must be released before the 60-day negotiation period starts, or whether the period begins upon signing as the earlier MoU report suggested — remains unresolved between the US and Iranian positions.
10 developments
- StrongIran details 60-day nuclear talks timeline, sanctions relief clauses in Islamabad MoU
- DevelopingUS official: No frozen funds released until Iran fulfills commitments
- DevelopingReport: Iran nuclear talks may extend 60 days, including enrichment and inspections
- StrongAmericans tell mediators: US forces stay in place during 60-day Iran nuclear talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake