According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official announced that the United States has agreed to release Iranian frozen assets held in Qatar and other foreign banks, describing the move as a sign of "seriousness" in ongoing talks with Washington in Islamabad.

The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters that the unfreezing of assets was "directly linked to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," a topic expected to dominate discussions.

While the official did not specify the amount, a second Iranian source confirmed that Washington had agreed to release $6 billion of frozen Iranian funds currently held in Qatar.

Neither the U.S. government nor Qatar’s Foreign Ministry immediately commented on the reported agreement.

Background on the Frozen Funds

The $6 billion in question was originally frozen in 2018 after the Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran and withdrew from the nuclear deal. The funds, derived from Iranian oil sales to South Korea, were blocked in South Korean banks before being transferred to Qatar in 2023 under a U.S.–Iran prisoner swap mediated by Doha.

That swap saw five U.S. citizens released from detention in Iran in exchange for the funds’ transfer and the release of five Iranians held in the United States. At the time, U.S. officials emphasized that the money could only be used for humanitarian purposes such as food, medicine, medical equipment, and agricultural goods, with strict oversight by the U.S. Treasury.

However, following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas, Washington froze the funds again, stating Iran would not be able to access them for the foreseeable future.