• Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says the US has committed to give Iran access to its frozen funds, but the US insists no money will be handed to Tehran.
  • Negotiations are focused on conditional, staged releases for humanitarian use, with Iran pushing for sizable upfront access.
  • Any interim deal could affect regional energy markets and sanctions dynamics, but remains contentious in both capitals.

Stalemate Over Frozen Assets

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Thursday that the United States has committed to providing Iran access to its frozen assets abroad, but US officials quickly pushed back, stating that no money will be given directly to Tehran. The conflicting statements underscore the delicate negotiations as both sides seek to address humanitarian needs without appearing to grant broad sanctions relief.

According to people familiar with the matter, talks in recent weeks have centered on an interim arrangement that would release a portion of the funds—estimated at around $6 billion to $10 billion—in stages, strictly for humanitarian imports such as food and medicine. Western intermediaries have emphasized robust verification mechanisms to ensure the money is not diverted to non-humanitarian uses.

Divergent Expectations

Iran has publicly pressed for a substantial upfront release, with officials suggesting roughly half of the frozen assets should be made available immediately and the remainder within a short window. “The US must show good faith,” a senior Iranian negotiator told Reuters, speaking anonymously. “Without credible sanctions relief, any deal will not address the real needs of our people.”

The US Treasury Department has not commented on the reported figures, but a State Department spokesperson reiterated that “any access to funds would be conditioned on strict oversight and limited to humanitarian purposes. There will be no direct transfer of money to the Iranian government.”

Market Implications

Market observers are watching closely for any sign of a thaw in sanctions enforcement. A partial release could help stabilize Iran’s currency and ease inflation pressures, but analysts caution that the immediate impact on oil markets would be limited. “It’s a humanitarian carve-out, not a free pass for Iran’s economy,” said a senior analyst at a London-based consultancy. “Investors should not expect a flood of Iranian oil anytime soon.”

Attempts to reach Kanaani for further clarification were not immediately successful.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the spokesman's first name. It is Nasser Kanaani, not Saeed Baghaei.