The US has clarified that frozen Iranian funds will not be released until Tehran meets the terms of the memorandum of understanding, and even then would be earmarked solely for the purchase of American agricultural products. The update comes as the Biden-era diplomatic track continues amid diverging Israeli and US threat perceptions, with Washington also reportedly discussing additional military options in internal White House deliberations.
The US has further tightened the conditions on $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets, clarifying that even if released following compliance with the 2023 memorandum of understanding, the funds may be used exclusively to purchase American agricultural products. The clarification, reported by The Zioneer on Thursday, sharpens Washington's stance as the diplomatic track continues amid internal White House deliberations that have also weighed additional military options.
The thread has evolved rapidly over the past days. On Monday Jun 29 at 11:04 Jerusalem, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian first claimed — without independent verification — that $6 billion in frozen funds had been released and transferred to Tehran. Within hours, he specified the transfer would occur 'within hours,' then asserted it was complete. However, by that same day at 11:04 Jerusalem, both the US and Qatar denied any transfer had occurred, with Qatar's foreign ministry saying no progress had been made. By Tuesday Jun 30 at 23:03 Jerusalem, a US administration official confirmed to The Zioneer that none of the funds had been released and none would be until Tehran 'meets requirements.' The current update adds the agricultural-use-only stipulation, further narrowing the unconditional release Tehran had initially claimed.
As The Zioneer reported earlier, President Trump has previously linked frozen assets to American agricultural exports, and Vice President Vance stated on Jun 22 that unfrozen funds must aid citizens, not fund terror. A Jun 26 report noted Trump linking frozen assets to US agricultural purchases, a position now formally adopted. The broader backdrop includes a reported hardening of Tehran's stance demanding the immediate release of $24 billion in frozen funds, and Trump's transactional 'Middle East Overseer' model floated to the New York Times on Jun 15.
What remains open: Iran has not formally responded to the latest US condition. Whether the MOU compliance requirements are met — or if Tehran will accept the agricultural-use restriction — is unconfirmed. The internal White House deliberations on military options, reported as underway, have not been detailed. The first Iranian president's initial claim of a full transfer remains denied by both Washington and Doha, with no independent verification of any partial or full transfer having occurred.
10 developments
- DevelopingUS tells Iran: No frozen funds without nuclear progress, NY Post reports
- DevelopingUS official: No frozen funds released until Iran fulfills commitments
- DevelopingIsraeli official urges US not to release frozen Iranian assets as part of MOU
- StrongIran clarifies it won't implement deal without full sanctions relief and frozen funds
Source and signal
- Internal intake