Iran's ambassador denies U.S. claims on frozen funds

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, has refuted claims made by the United States regarding the utilization of frozen Iranian funds. The dispute centers on an agreement where Washington reportedly consented to unblock $12 billion in Iranian assets and temporarily suspend sanctions on the Islamic Republic's oil exports.

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated on Monday that the funds had not yet been released under the agreement. He suggested that if unblocked, the money could be used to purchase U.S. goods, such as soybeans, rather than being channeled into terrorism financing.

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Iran will decide for itself what to do with its assets, which were frozen and will now be returned.

Bahreini directly contradicted these assertions during a press conference in Geneva. "Iran will decide for itself what to do with its assets, which were frozen and will now be returned," he told journalists. He firmly rejected any U.S. claims that another country should influence these decisions or processes.

Historically, Iran's assets have been frozen, and extensive sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other Western nations following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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I do not agree with any (Washington's) claims that... any other country should have any role in influencing those decisions or those processes.