The United States says that not a single dollar of frozen Iranian assets has been released to date, directly contradicting Iranian media claims of an imminent $24 billion deal and reports of transfers via the UAE.
The Biden administration stated Monday that "zero" frozen Iranian assets have been released so far, pushing back against a series of reports from Iranian media and a claim by an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader that a $24 billion release was part of a potential US-Iran understanding.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, a senior US official said no funds had been released and that further disbursements depend on Tehran fulfilling its commitments. The latest statement reinforces that position, aligning with an Israeli official's appeal last week urging Washington not to unfreeze Iranian assets as part of any memorandum of understanding.
Iranian outlets have in recent days reported a potential agreement including $24 billion in released assets, a halt to regional hostilities, and 60-day nuclear talks. Separately, Reuters reported that the UAE had agreed to release about $10 billion in frozen Iranian funds, with $3 billion already reportedly transferred. The US statement contests the premise that any transfer to Iran has actually occurred.
The contradiction leaves the status of frozen Iranian funds unresolved, although Washington's clear denial suggests that diplomatic progress remains contingent on Iranian compliance rather than upfront financial relief.
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