Iran hasn’t received any of the $6 billion in frozen assets the US pledged to dole out in exchange for progress made implementing the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, an administration official exclusively told The Post on Tuesday, luring Iran back to the negotiating table in Qatar.
“No frozen funds have been released and no frozen funds will be released unless Iran meets the requirements outlined in the MOU,” the person said. “…Nothing is given for free and everything is tied to benchmarks.”
While Iran has argued the funds should be delivered in a lump sum, the US intends to make small, incremental payouts — directly to vendors — as Iran progresses in key negotiation areas, the US official said.
Iran has not received any of the $6 billion in frozen assets the US pledged to dole out in exchange for progress made implementing the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, Qatar confirmed Tuesday. AFP via Getty ImagesIran started these talks demanding that it receive its frozen funds and assets upoon the signing of this MOU,” the official explained. “We rejected that and they eventually conceded that they will not receive any money unless they perform.”
The update on the Qatar-held frozen funds came as US negotiators Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Doha — and a day ahead of an Iranian delegation’s planned trip to the capital city, where Iranian sources say Tehran intends to hammer out how to access the frozen funds.
Iran on Monday vehemently denied reports that it would be returning to negotiate with the Americans this week — but the statement appeared to reflect Tehran splitting hairs on the structure of the talks, Vice President JD Vance told The Michael Knowles Show on Tuesday.
While technical teams from both the US and Iran will meet with Qatari mediators on Wednesday, they will occur separately and negotiations will take place indirectly.
“One of the things I find just fascinating and frustrating about the Iranians is they’ll say, ‘No, no. There aren’t peace talks ongoing, but there are technical talks between the United States and Iran about the peace deals,” he said. “And it’s like, OK, so it’s a Persian negotiating tactic and a Persian rhetorical device that I don’t understand.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said their team will focus on how to release the frozen funds, which American officials say must occur after Iran meets certain milestones.
“As Iran reopens the Strait, stops charging tolls, and meets other milestones, they will be able to access structured relief,” the US official said. “…If they implement the MOU, then they can get access to some of their frozen assets for humanitarian purchases of US goods.”
The relief is needed due to Iran’s badly damaged economy, which is putting extra pressure on Tehran’s political leadership.
“The Iranian regime knows it has to answer to its people and that’s why they have agreed to meet our benchmarks in exchange for humanitarian relief,” a separate US official told The Post on Monday.
“The Iranian people deserve peace and security. Their economy is in freefall and they are facing massive food shortages and price hikes as a result of their government’s mismanagement,” the person added.
