• Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei claims the U.S. has committed to granting Tehran access to its frozen funds, but American officials deny any such pledge.
  • Negotiations center on a staged release of up to $12 billion for humanitarian purposes, conditional on Iranian compliance.
  • A binding agreement remains elusive, with both sides publicly at odds over the terms.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani Baghaei on Thursday asserted that the United States has committed to unfreezing Iranian assets abroad, stating that Washington will not give Tehran any "money" but will allow access to the funds. However, U.S. officials swiftly denied making any such commitment, highlighting the persistent gap between the two sides as they negotiate a potential interim deal.

According to people familiar with the matter, discussions have focused on unfreezing a portion of Iran's frozen assets—estimated at between $6 billion and $12 billion—for humanitarian purchases such as food and medicine. The proposed mechanism would involve staged releases over 60 days, with strict monitoring to ensure funds are not diverted to sanctioned activities. Iranian officials have pressed for immediate access to at least half of the funds upon signing a memorandum of understanding, while the U.S. insists on linking any relief to compliance with a broader future agreement.

The conflicting statements came after weeks of back-channel talks mediated by regional partners. "We have a constant dialogue with the U.S. through intermediaries, and they have clearly stated that they will not give Iran money, but they will allow us to use our own frozen assets," Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran. A U.S. State Department spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, countered: "There is no commitment to unfreeze assets without verifiable steps by Iran. Any suggestion otherwise is false."

The standoff underscores the deep mistrust that has hobbled U.S.-Iran relations for decades. Iran seeks broad sanctions relief to ease its economic crisis, while Washington aims to curb Tehran's nuclear program and regional influence. Analysts note that even a partial unfreezing could provide limited relief for ordinary Iranians struggling with inflation and shortages, but the political risks are high for both sides.

"Without a deal, Iran's economy will continue to suffer, but the U.S. risks losing leverage if it releases funds without concrete guarantees," said a former Western diplomat familiar with the talks. The negotiations come amid heightened regional tensions, with European and Middle Eastern powers watching closely for any signs of a breakthrough.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the amount of frozen assets under discussion. The correct figure is up to $12 billion.