Iranian Officials Claim U.S. Agreed to Release $6 Billion in Frozen Assets

An unnamed senior Iranian source told Reuters on April 11, 2026, that the United States has agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds held in Qatar, describing the move as evidence of American "seriousness" in ongoing peace negotiations in Islamabad. U.S. officials have not confirmed the claim, and the statement came as the two countries held talks focused partly on shipping rights through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of negotiations, told Reuters that unfreezing the assets was directly connected to discussions over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments. A second Iranian source specified the amount as $6 billion, though the first source declined to provide a figure. The funds were originally frozen in 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear agreement with Iran and reimposed sanctions. The money originated from Iranian oil sales to South Korea and had been held in South Korean banks before being transferred to Qatar in September 2023 as part of a prisoner swap mediated by Doha.

The Biden administration refroze the $6 billion in October 2023 following Hamas's attacks on Israel, citing security concerns and stating that Iran would not access the funds "for the foreseeable future." At that time, U.S. officials said the money was restricted to humanitarian purposes only—food, medicine, medical equipment, and agricultural goods—and would be disbursed under U.S. Treasury oversight to approved vendors.

The U.S. State Department and White House have not issued statements confirming or denying the Iranian claim as of April 11. Qatar's Foreign Ministry also did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The timing of the Iranian announcement coincides with high-level talks in Islamabad involving U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who arrived in Pakistan on April 11 to meet with Iranian officials.

Social media users on X and Reddit expressed skepticism about the Iranian claim, with some noting the contradiction between the announcement and the lack of U.S. confirmation. Others pointed to the history of failed negotiations between the two countries as reason to question whether any agreement had been finalized.

Context

The $6 billion has been at the center of U.S.-Iran relations since Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the multilateral nuclear agreement signed in 2015. Under the original deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. When Trump left office in January 2021, the incoming Biden administration initially pursued a return to the agreement but negotiations stalled. The September 2023 prisoner swap represented the first significant financial transaction between the two countries in years, with the U.S. releasing five American citizens detained in Iran in exchange for five Iranians held in the U.S. and the transfer of the $6 billion to Qatar.

The refreezing of the funds in October 2023 followed the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and marked a reversal of the brief thaw in relations. Iran has long sought access to the money, framing it as compensation for economic losses from sanctions rather than a concession from the U.S. The current talks in Islamabad represent the first direct high-level negotiations between the two countries since the Biden administration ended in January 2025, suggesting a potential shift in approach under the new administration.

What's Next

The Iranian claim will likely face scrutiny in coming days as U.S. officials are expected to clarify their position. If the U.S. confirms an agreement to release the funds, it would signal a significant opening in negotiations and could pave the way for broader discussions on nuclear policy, sanctions relief, and regional security. Conversely, if U.S. officials deny the claim, it may indicate that the Islamabad talks are still in early stages with no major agreements reached. The outcome will be closely watched by regional allies, including Israel and Gulf states, who have expressed concerns about any U.S. rapprochement with Iran.