Iran Seeks Release of Frozen Funds in Talks With Qatar

Iran has pressed for the release of frozen funds in Qatar and South Korea during a visit by Parliament Speaker Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf to Qatar, with Tehran focusing on a 14-point memorandum of understanding that would unlock the blocked assets. The issue remains one of the key topics in Iran’s difficult negotiations with the United States over assets held abroad. The agreement under discussion covers a total of $24 billion, according to the details shared about the visit. Half of that amount is expected to become accessible once the memorandum is announced, while the remaining portion is slated to be transferred within 60 days. Iran sees the release of blocked assets abroad as a major priority in its broader talks with Washington. The frozen holdings are said to include foreign accounts, bank deposits, real estate and other assets. The total value of Iran’s frozen assets abroad is estimated at between $100 billion and $120 billion. The figures underscore the scale of the financial dispute that continues to shape Tehran’s negotiations on sanctions-related funds.