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Iranian officials have asserted that their country will only participate in a peace deal with the United States if $24 billion in frozen assets are lifted. This demand has emerged as a major stumbling block in ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the protracted conflict between the two nations.
According to Iranian government sources, $12 billion should be released immediately upon the announcement of a peace agreement, while the remaining $12 billion should be transferred to Iranian accounts within 60 days. The frozen assets in question pertain to oil and gas revenues that have been blocked under US sanctions and are being held in countries such as South Korea, Qatar, Iraq, and Germany.
This financial demand has taken center stage in negotiations between the two nations, with Iranian officials regarding it as a non-negotiable precondition for a peace deal. However, the move has been met with opposition from allies of former US President Donald Trump, who argue that releasing the assets would amount to rewarding Iran for its past actions.
The conflict between Iran and the United States has a long and complex history, fueled by longstanding tensions over nuclear proliferation, regional influence, and US sanctions. Efforts to broker a peace deal have been underway for years, but a breakthrough has yet to be achieved.
US diplomats have reportedly expressed a willingness to engage with Iran on issues such as lifting sanctions and restoring diplomatic ties, but they are hesitant to compromise on the financial demands. Some observers believe that Iranian officials are using the demand for asset release as a bargaining chip, potentially aimed at extracting greater concessions from their US counterparts.
Others point out that the frozen assets pertain to Iranian oil and gas revenues that have been blocked for years due to US sanctions. Iranian officials argue that their country has a legitimate claim to the assets and should not be penalized further for its past actions.
As the standoff continues, analysts are cautioning that further delays may hamper the prospects for a peaceful resolution. The fate of the peace negotiations hangs in the balance, with the Iranian government’s stance on the frozen assets serving as the major point of contention.