A senior US official has firmly denied reports claiming that the United States has agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks.
The denial from the White House comes shortly after a senior Iranian source told Reuters that Washington had approved the unfreezing of the assets as a “test of goodwill” linked to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and progress toward a durable peace deal.
US Official Denial
The White House and US officials have categorically rejected the Iranian claim. They stated that no such agreement to unfreeze Iranian assets has been reached at this stage of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
This clarification aims to counter mixed signals emerging from the high-stakes US-Iran talks currently underway (with some delays) in Islamabad, Pakistan, mediated by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Background on the Conflicting Claims
Earlier reports suggested the US was considering the release of billions in frozen Iranian oil revenues and other assets as a confidence-building measure. Iran had described the potential move as directly tied to ensuring uninterrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital global oil chokepoint.
However, the US side has pushed back, emphasizing that any sanctions relief or asset unfreezing would only be considered as part of a comprehensive and verifiable agreement addressing key issues such as:
- Iran’s nuclear program
- Ballistic missile development
- Support for regional proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon
- Full and sustained implementation of the two-week ceasefire
Current Status of US-Iran Negotiations in Islamabad
The talks in Islamabad, involving a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian team, remain delicate. Recent developments include:
- Delays in the start of direct negotiations, with delegations first holding separate meetings with Pakistani leadership
- Ongoing differences over ceasefire compliance in Lebanon
- Iran’s demands for asset release and a full halt to attacks before deeper talks proceed
President Donald Trump has maintained a firm “Peace Through Strength” approach, combining diplomatic engagement with military readiness in case Iran fails to comply.