ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior Iranian official on Thursday reiterated Tehran’s demand for the release of frozen Iranian assets held by the United States, amid ongoing negotiations aimed at securing a permanent truce.
“We are seeking the release of all Iranian assets frozen by the United States, and this is the legal right of the Iranian nation,” Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said, according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.
The issue of frozen assets has emerged as a key demand for Tehran, whose economy has been heavily impacted by decades of Western sanctions as well as the war with the US and Israel that began on February 28. The conflict, which included more than 17,000 strikes across Iran, was halted by a ceasefire on April 8, though tensions have continued.
Iran’s economy has also faced additional pressure from a US naval blockade on Iranian ports imposed on April 13, which has caused major disruptions to trade and contributed to shortages of raw materials across the country.
“Iran's assets must be returned to Iran in full and unconditionally,” Bagheri added.
According to Tasnim, Iran is seeking access to $12 billion out of an estimated $24 billion in frozen assets held abroad. Qatar, where part of the funds are reportedly held, has been mediating discussions between Tehran and Washington. Iranian and Qatari officials met on Monday as part of those efforts.
In mid-April, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the release of blocked Iranian assets must be fulfilled for negotiations to move forward.
While Tehran has previously demanded full sanctions relief, the unfreezing of assets had not publicly been presented as a direct precondition for talks.
US President Donald Trump said during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday: “We have control of money that they claim is theirs. We’ll keep control of that money. When they behave properly, and when they do what’s right, we’ll let them have their money. But right now, we’re not doing that.”