Qatar denies offering Iran $12 billion for US deal, calls reports sabotage

Qatar has vehemently denied allegations that it offered Iran $12 billion to facilitate an agreement with the United States. Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the reports as untrue and attributed their dissemination to parties seeking to undermine ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

"The reports pointing to Qatar 'offering' $12 billion to Iran to secure a deal simply are not true, and are being spread by parties attempting to sabotage the agreement and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation and regional stability," al-Ansari stated on his X account. He emphasized Qatar's consistent and public diplomatic role, coordinated with regional allies, asserting that such narratives are "desperate attempts to tarnish Qatar's reputation as a reliable facilitator of international peace."

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The reports pointing to Qatar 'offering' $12 billion to Iran to secure a deal simply are not true, and are being spread by parties attempting to sabotage the agreement and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation and regional stability.

The accusations surfaced following reports in Israeli and Saudi-aligned media, which claimed that Iranian negotiators were demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in assets frozen in Qatar. These reports also suggested that Tehran sought the full unblocking of its assets held globally, amid disagreements with the U.S. on key aspects of a potential deal.

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Such narratives are nothing more than desperate attempts to tarnish Qatar's reputation as a reliable facilitator of international peace.

These claims emerged shortly after Iranian chief negotiator Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abás Araqchí traveled to Qatar for discussions, according to Iranian state media. The Governor of Iran's Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati, also arrived in Qatar the same day, amid Tehran's persistent demands for the release of funds frozen by the United States.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that talks with Iran are continuing, stressing the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. He indicated that reaching an agreement, even on minor points, would require time and careful negotiation, stating, "It's going to take a couple of days to get to an agreement, even on disagreements over a word or a phrase. So we'll have to work on that. But it's either going to be a good deal or no deal at all."

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It's going to take a couple of days to get to an agreement, even on disagreements over a word or a phrase. So we'll have to work on that. But it's either going to be a good deal or no deal at all.