JUST IN: US Official Rejects Iranian Media Report Claiming Agreement to Unfreeze Iranian Assets
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Diplomacy & Conflict
A senior White House official has categorically denied reports circulating in Iranian media that the United States has agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks. The denial, issued on Saturday, directly contradicts claims made by anonymous Iranian sources who suggested the move was a sign of Washington’s “seriousness” in reaching a deal during ongoing peace talks in Islamabad .
“False. The meetings have not even started yet.”
— Senior White House Official, as reported by The Sun Nigeria
The swift rejection of the claim underscores the deep mistrust that continues to characterize US-Iran relations, even as both nations sit down for high-stakes negotiations in the Pakistani capital.
Conflicting Narratives on the Eve of Talks
The controversy erupted after a senior Iranian source, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, claimed that the US had agreed to release frozen Iranian funds. The source reportedly described the purported move as a sign of “seriousness” by Washington in the talks and claimed that unfreezing the assets was “directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz” — a central issue in the negotiations .
A second Iranian source went further, specifying that the US had agreed to release $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds held by Qatar .
However, the White House swiftly rejected these assertions. A senior US official called the claims “false,” noting that the meetings between the two sides had not even begun at the time the Iranian sources made their statements .
The $6 Billion Question: Background on the Frozen Funds
The assets at the center of the dispute have a complex history dating back to the first Trump administration.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Funds from Iranian oil sales to South Korea are frozen in South Korean banks after President Trump reimposes sanctions and withdraws from the JCPOA nuclear deal |
| September 2023 | Funds are transferred to Qatari accounts as part of a US-Iranian prisoner swap mediated by Doha |
| Post-October 7, 2023 | Funds are re-frozen by the Biden administration after Hamas attacks on Israel |
| April 2026 | Iran claims US agreed to release funds; US denies |
Under the September 2023 prisoner swap, the money was transferred to Qatari bank accounts in exchange for the release of five US citizens detained in Iran and the release of five Iranians held in the United States. US officials said at the time that the money was restricted to humanitarian use only — to be disbursed to approved vendors for food, medicine, medical equipment, and agricultural goods shipped into Iran under US Treasury oversight .
However, following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas — an Iran-backed group — the Biden administration again froze the funds, stating that Iran would not be able to access the money for the foreseeable future .
Iran’s Preconditions: Assets and Lebanon
The asset release issue is one of two core preconditions that Iran has insisted must be fulfilled before negotiations can proceed in good faith. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is leading the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, stated that two measures “mutually agreed upon between the parties” have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations .
According to a Pakistani government official, the negotiations are proceeding slower than expected, with the US side appearing eager to achieve progress while the Iranian side is “in no rush” .
The Talks Continue: A ‘Make or Break’ Moment
Despite the conflicting signals on asset release, the diplomatic process in Islamabad continues. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described the current moment as a critical juncture, with the talks representing a “make or break” opportunity for regional peace .
Key Developments:
- US Delegation: Led by Vice President JD Vance, who has warned that if Iran attempts to “play” the United States, the American negotiating team will not be receptive
- Iranian Delegation: Led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, including a specialized financial team to negotiate asset issues
- Security: More than 10,000 security personnel deployed across Islamabad; Serena Hotel under lockdown
A Pakistani government official told reporters that the negotiation process is moving slower than expected and may take longer than initially anticipated, with both sides working through complex issues including the asset dispute and the status of Lebanon .
Analysis: Deep Mistrust at the Table
The contradictory claims over frozen assets — Iran asserting an agreement has been reached, the US flatly denying it — highlight the profound trust deficit that both delegations bring to the negotiating table.
Ghalibaf himself struck a cautious note upon arrival in Islamabad, stating: “We have good intentions but we do not trust. Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises” .
Vice President Vance, for his part, has expressed cautious optimism while also issuing pointed warnings. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance told reporters before departing for Islamabad. “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive” .
The dispute over assets — and the very different public statements coming from each side — suggests that even basic procedural issues remain unresolved as the talks continue. Whether the Islamabad negotiations can overcome these differences remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Has the US agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets?
No. The White House has officially denied that the United States has agreed to release any frozen Iranian assets. A senior US official called the claims “false” .
2. What did Iranian sources claim about the assets?
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the US had agreed to release frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing it as a sign of “seriousness” in reaching a deal. A second source specified that the US had agreed to release $6 billion held by Qatar .
3. Where did the $6 billion come from?
The funds stem from Iranian oil sales to South Korea that were frozen in 2018 after President Trump reimposed sanctions. They were transferred to Qatari accounts as part of a 2023 prisoner swap but were frozen again after the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel .
4. What are Iran’s preconditions for negotiations?
Iran has demanded two conditions be met before negotiations can proceed: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of its frozen assets .
5. What has Vice President Vance said about the talks?
Vance expressed cautious optimism but warned that if Iran attempts to “play” the United States, the American negotiating team will not be receptive. He stated that President Trump has given the delegation “pretty clear guidelines” .
6. Are the Islamabad talks still ongoing?
Yes. Despite the conflicting signals on asset release, both delegations are in Islamabad and negotiations are continuing, though Pakistani officials have indicated the process is moving slower than expected
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