Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister: Any Agreement with the US Must Include the Release of Half of Iran's Frozen Assets

Odaily News According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the Deputy Minister of Legal and International Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that once any memorandum of understanding is signed with the United States, at least 50% of Iran's frozen financial assets must be released immediately. Gharibabadi stated that Tehran would only consider any draft agreement as final if "its interests and concerns are fully taken into account." Gharibabadi said: "Iran at least insists that, after signing the memorandum of understanding, 50% of these funds must be made available to Iran immediately." He added that the remaining funds should be "unfrozen within a limited period of one to two months after the agreement is signed." Gharibabadi stated that these assets belong to Iran and have been "unlawfully frozen" by the United States, and their release is a core requirement of any potential understanding. He indicated that the remaining details of the mechanism for accessing the funds, including technical and financial arrangements, will be subject to further negotiations during the 60-day implementation period after the memorandum is signed. (Jin Shi)