Iranian Official Links Any US Agreement to Release of $24 Billion in Frozen Funds

TEHRAN, Iran — An advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said any agreement with the United States depends on Washington releasing funds that have been frozen under U.S. sanctions. Mohsen Rezaei told CNN the agreement is conditional on the United States unfreezing $24 billion in Iranian assets. He also said Thursday that certain provisions in a draft memorandum being negotiated between Iran and the United States to end hostilities require further clarification. According to Reuters, Rezaei said U.S. President Donald Trump wants to pressure Iran into accepting his terms, while Iran intends to keep its own conditions ambiguous. No further details about the negotiations were immediately available.