Iran ties US deal to release of $24b in frozen assets

A military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader has declared that any potential agreement between Tehran and Washington is contingent upon the release of $24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by the Trump administration. Mohsen Rezaei told CNN that negotiations are currently at an impasse and that President Trump must resolve the deadlock. He stressed that the "ball is in Trump's court." According to Rezaei, Iran seeks immediate release of $12 billion upon agreement signing, with the remainder to be unfrozen in subsequent stages. He described the release of these funds as crucial for establishing trust between the two nations. "If he (Trump) wants to reach an agreement with Iran, these $24 billion are a test of the trust Iran seeks to have in Trump," Rezaei stated, adding that the United States must pass this test to advance discussions. He asserted that the assets rightfully belong to Iran, calling them "our money, not America's." Rezaei also dismissed the possibility of a direct meeting between Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Trump, noting that bilateral talks are currently suspended. These remarks followed Trump's recent suggestion that he might meet with Khamenei.

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The negotiations are at a deadlock and (US President Donald) Trump must break this deadlock.