US Vice President JD Vance (C) gestures upon his arrival for the US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad on April 11, 2026. AFP.
White House rejects report on unfreezing Iran assets as Islamabad talks continue
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The White House on Saturday rejected reports claiming that the United States had agreed to release Iran’s frozen financial assets held in foreign banks, even as negotiations between American and Iranian delegations continue in Islamabad to broker a ceasefire.
A Reuters report, citing senior Iranian sources, suggested that Washington had agreed to unfreeze funds held in Qatar and other countries. The sources described the move as a sign of “seriousness” in ongoing talks and linked it directly to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.
The funds in question, estimated at $6 billion, date back to 2018 when the US reimposed sanctions on Iran during the first presidency of Donald Trump after withdrawing from the nuclear deal. The money, generated from Iranian oil sales to South Korea, was initially held in South Korean banks.
