Iran issues ultimatum to US over frozen assets in escalating standoff

Iranian negotiators are demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in blocked Islamic Republic assets held in Qatar, calling it a precondition for advancing talks with the United States, Iran International reports, citing an informed source.

The source said Tehran will not proceed with preliminary agreements without guaranteed access to these funds. He added that unlocking these Qatar-based assets is a strict requirement for the initial stage of a memorandum of understanding.

According to him, Iran has emphasised that even at the first stage—before any steps toward an initial diplomatic agreement—real and guaranteed access to the $12 billion must be secured.

The source stressed that the $12 billion figure represents only the amount Tehran is demanding to move into the first phase of a diplomatic roadmap and does not include all other frozen assets that Iran seeks to recover globally.

He added that Tehran’s broader negotiating position is that all of its frozen assets worldwide should be fully released as part of any final comprehensive agreement.

Earlier on Sunday, May 24, Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published details of a draft memorandum citing “obtained information.” According to the report, Iran insists that part of its blocked funds must be released in the initial phase, even before talks on the main terms of an agreement begin. The agency stated: “Any preliminary agreement is only possible on the condition that part of these assets is unblocked in a way that gives Tehran access to them.”

According to the IRGC-linked outlet, the United States has recently sought to postpone the release of these assets until a final nuclear agreement is reached. However, Iran is demanding that a portion of the funds be unlocked at the beginning of the deal process, along with the establishment of a mechanism for subsequent releases during negotiations. Tasnim also reported: “The mechanism for releasing the remaining portion must be defined during negotiations, and if the Americans again obstruct the unfreezing process, Tehran will reconsider its participation in further talks.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada