Iran, US dispute over frozen funds amount as figures differ

A member of Iran’s parliament National Security Committee has highlighted discrepancies between Iranian and US accounts regarding the scale and location of frozen Iranian financial assets.

Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani said differing figures have emerged over the amount of funds under discussion, adding that Islamic Republic officials place the total at around $25 billion, Iran Inernational reports. 

However, he noted that US officials say only about $12 billion of that amount is currently held in Qatar.

Bakhshayesh Ardestani further said the funds were originally expected to be transferred to Iran via Russia, but that the United States blocked the move, leaving approximately $12 billion still in Qatar.

By Sabina Mammadli