• Iran's top diplomat says Washington will commit to giving Tehran access to frozen funds.
  • US officials deny any cash transfer, describing a phased humanitarian mechanism.
  • Talks continue on an interim framework as both sides test negotiation positions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday that the United States will commit itself to give Iran access to its frozen assets, though he provided no details on a timeline or amount. “The US has accepted in principle to release our funds,” Baghaei told reporters in Tehran, according to state media. “The mechanism and schedule are still being discussed.”

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pushed back on the characterization. “There will be no transfer of cash to the Iranian government,” the official said. “Any access to funds would be strictly for humanitarian goods, with full oversight, and is part of broader talks aimed at de-escalation.” The official declined to say whether such a deal was close.

The conflicting statements come as negotiators from both countries hold indirect talks in Oman, seeking an interim framework that could ease economic pressure on Iran without dismantling the US sanctions architecture. People familiar with the matter say the discussions have centered on a phased, conditional release of a portion of the roughly $6 billion in Iranian assets held in South Korea and Iraq.

Under one model being discussed, Iran would gain access to the funds through a humanitarian channel, likely overseen by a third party, to pay for imports of food and medicine. The funds would not go directly to the Iranian central bank, but to a restricted account. In exchange, Iran would be expected to take steps to curb its nuclear enrichment program and halt support for proxies in the region, according to sources.

“Both sides are testing each other’s red lines,” said a Gulf-based analyst who closely tracks the talks. “The rhetoric is meant for domestic audiences, but the substance is moving slowly.”

Baghaei’s remarks appeared aimed at showing progress at home, where the economy is struggling under sanctions. Iranian officials have long demanded unfreezing of assets as a sign of good faith. Washington has insisted that any relief be performance-based and reversible.

The talks resumed in late May after a months-long pause, with former Qatari mediators rejoining. EU diplomats have also been shuttling messages. No firm deadline has been set, but both sides have signaled a desire for a limited deal before the summer, when political calendars become crowded.

Iran’s frozen assets, if fully released, could provide a short-term boost to its foreign exchange reserves, but analysts say the immediate impact on inflation or import volumes would be limited unless the scale is large. Markets have largely shrugged off the latest news, with Brent crude trading at $83 per barrel, down 1.2% on the day.

Neither side expects an overnight breakthrough. “We are still far from an agreement,” the US official said. “But we are talking.”